Real-time traffic condition measurement using network transmission data

ABSTRACT

In embodiments of the present invention improved capabilities are described for identifying a first location, at time one, of a plurality of automobiles using cell phone tower triangulation to locate a cell phone within each of the plurality of automobiles, identifying a second location, at time two, for each of the plurality of automobiles using cell phone tower triangulation to locate the cell phone within each of the plurality of automobiles, calculating a vehicle speed for each of the plurality of automobiles using the first and second locations already identified, and creating a traffic condition measure for a route in proximity to the first and second locations. The computer program product may repeat this process in real-time to calculate a real-time traffic condition measure that may be a traffic density measure the computer program product may use to predict a travel time.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.13/188,870, filed Jul. 22, 2011 which is a continuation of Ser. No.13/019,869, filed Feb. 2, 2011. U.S. application Ser. No. 13/019,869(now U.S. Pat. No. 8,548,719, issued Oct. 1, 2013) is a continuation ofU.S. application Ser. No. 12/391,745, filed Feb. 24, 2009 (now U.S. Pat.No. 7,904,240, issued Mar. 8, 2011). U.S. Pat. No. 7,904,240 is acontinuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 11/052,547, filed Feb. 7,2005, (now U.S. Pat. No. 7,522,995, issued Apr. 21, 2009). U.S. Pat. No.7,522,995 claims the benefit of the following U.S. Provisional patentapplications: U.S. Prov. App. No. 60/541,990, filed Feb. 5, 2004; U.S.Prov. App. No. 60/578,494, filed Jun. 10, 2004; and U.S. Prov. App. No.60/617,857, filed Oct. 12, 2004.

Each of the foregoing patents and applications are incorporated hereinby reference in their entirety.

BACKGROUND

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to systems and methods for locatingpositions, determining route information and providing information tousers. More particularly, in embodiments, systems and methods formapping positions, predicting traffic patterns, presenting routeinformation, presenting navigation information, presenting informationrelated to locations, and providing intuitive interfaces to a user forretrieving information.

2. Description of Related Art

People and things move throughout the world while interacting with manyother people and objects. Methods and systems of tracking and predictingsuch movements can improve operations. Generally, these systems are poorand do not provide for adequate information for acceptable tracking orpredicting.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In embodiments of the present invention, a computer program product mayidentify a first location, at time one, of a plurality of automobilesusing cell phone tower triangulation to locate a cell phone within eachof the plurality of automobiles. The computer program product may thenidentify a second location, at time two, for each of the plurality ofautomobiles using cell phone tower triangulation to locate the cellphone within each of the plurality of automobiles. The computer programproduct may then calculate a vehicle speed for each of the plurality ofautomobiles using the first and second locations already identified.Once a vehicle speed is calculated for each of the plurality ofautomobiles, the computer program product may create a traffic conditionmeasure for a route in proximity to the first and second locations. Thecomputer program product may repeat this process in real-time tocalculate a real-time traffic condition measure. The real-time trafficcondition measure may be a traffic density measure that the computerprogram product may use to predict a travel time. The travel timeprediction may be based at least in part on the measure of trafficdensity and at least one of the following: a time of day, a day of theweek, a weather condition and/or a road condition, or some otherparameter corresponding to the real-time traffic condition measure.

In embodiments of the present invention, a computer program product mayidentify a first location, at time one, of a plurality of automobilesusing cell phone tower triangulation to locate a cell phone within eachof the plurality of automobiles. The computer program product may thenidentify a second location, at time two, for each of the plurality ofautomobiles using cell phone tower triangulation to locate the cellphone within each of the plurality of automobiles. The computer programproduct may then calculate a vehicle speed for each of the plurality ofautomobiles using the first and second locations already identified.Once a vehicle speed is calculated for each of the plurality ofautomobiles, the computer program product may create a traffic conditionmeasure for a route in proximity to the first and second locations. Thecomputer program product may repeat this process in real-time tocalculate a real-time traffic condition measure. When the computerprogram product receives a request from a user's cell phone for trafficcondition information associated with the route, the computer programproduct may respond by displaying the real-time traffic condition on theuser's cell phone. The user's request may be manual or automated, andmay be sent from the user's cell phone once a user enters a geographiclocation or region. The computer program product's response to a user'srequest may also come from a different user's prior manual or automatedrequest for the same traffic information.

In embodiments of the present invention, a computer program product mayidentify a first location, at time one, of a plurality of automobilesusing cell phone tower triangulation to locate a cell phone within eachof the plurality of automobiles. The computer program product may thenidentify a second location, at time two, for each of the plurality ofautomobiles using cell phone tower triangulation to locate the cellphone within each of the plurality of automobiles. The computer programproduct may then calculate a vehicle speed for each of the plurality ofautomobiles using the first and second locations already identified.Once a vehicle speed is calculated for each of the plurality ofautomobiles, the computer program product may create a traffic conditionmeasure for a route in proximity to the first and second locations. Thecomputer program product may repeat this process in real-time tocalculate a real-time traffic condition measure. When the computerprogram product receives a request from a user's cell phone for trafficcondition information associated with the route, the computer programproduct may respond by displaying the real-time traffic condition on theuser's cell phone. The computer program product's response may beselected from a plurality of real-time traffic condition measures basedat least in part on traffic data relating to a geographic area inproximity to a cell phone tower from which the user's request wasreceived. The computer program product's response may be calculated oncethe user's request is received or prior to receiving the user's request.

These and other systems, methods, objects, features, and advantages ofthe present invention may be apparent to those skilled in the art fromthe following detailed description of the preferred embodiment and thedrawings. All documents mentioned herein are hereby incorporated intheir entirety by reference.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

The following figures depict certain illustrative embodiments of theinvention in which like reference numerals refer to like elements. Thesedepicted embodiments are to be understood as illustrative of theinvention and not as limiting in any way.

FIG. 1 illustrates a road map according to the principles of the presentinvention.

FIG. 2 illustrates a flow diagram for presenting a computer generatedmap according to the principles of the present invention.

FIG. 3 illustrates an in car map with gps according to the principles ofthe present invention.

FIG. 4 illustrates a web based map according to the principles of thepresent invention.

FIG. 5 illustrates a computer map according to the principles of thepresent invention.

FIG. 6 illustrates a computer map with gps according to the principlesof the present invention.

FIG. 7 illustrates a tracking position through cell phone triangulationaccording to the principles of the present invention.

FIG. 7 a illustrates a tracking multiple positions of a cell phoneaccording to the principles of the present invention.

FIG. 8 illustrates a process for determining cell phone locationsaccording to the principles of the present invention.

FIG. 9 illustrates a process for determining cell phone speed accordingto the principles of the present invention.

FIG. 10 illustrates a tracking position through gps location accordingto the principles of the present invention

FIG. 11 illustrates a process for determining speed through gpslocations according to the principles of the present invention.

FIG. 12 illustrates tracking traffic patterns through mapped locationsaccording to the principles of the present invention.

FIG. 13 illustrates tracking traffic patterns through cameras accordingto the principles of the present invention.

FIG. 14 illustrates tracking traffic patterns through manual measurementaccording to the principles of the present invention.

FIG. 15 illustrates tracking traffic flow through toll traffic accordingto the principles of the present invention.

FIG. 16 illustrates tracking traffic flow through transponders accordingto the principles of the present invention.

FIG. 17 illustrates tracking traffic flow through transponders, whereinthe master is mounted on a non-toll facility according to the principlesof the present invention.

FIG. 18 illustrates tracking traffic flow through transponders, whereinthe master is mounted on a sign according to the principles of thepresent invention.

FIG. 18A illustrates tracking traffic with radar according to theprinciples of the present invention.

FIG. 19 illustrates a map of traffic density according to the principlesof the present invention.

FIG. 20 illustrates a map of traffic flow according to the principles ofthe present invention.

FIG. 21 illustrates a process for predicting traffic speed within aroute according to the principles of the present invention.

FIG. 22 illustrates a process for predicting typical route timeaccording to the principles of the present invention.

FIG. 23 illustrates a process for providing real time route timeaccording to the principles of the present invention.

FIG. 24 illustrates a process for presenting shortest route using speedlimits and shortest typical time route according to the principles ofthe present invention.

FIG. 25 illustrates a process for presenting a plurality of routes basedon typical time according to the principles of the present invention.

FIG. 26 illustrates a process for presenting a route based on startingtime according to the principles of the present invention.

FIG. 27 illustrates a presenting information to guide start timeaccording to the principles of the present invention.

FIG. 28 illustrates a presenting a map with shortest travel time basedon speed limits, shortest travel time based on typical travelconditions, and shortest travel time based on present travel conditionsaccording to the principles of the present invention.

FIG. 29 illustrates a presenting alternate route based on trafficinformation according to the principles of the present invention.

FIG. 29A illustrates systems and methods for communicating routeinformation according to aspects of the present invention.

FIG. 30 illustrates warning through on dash signal according to theprinciples of the present invention.

FIG. 31 illustrates warning through on board mapping system according tothe principles of the present invention.

FIG. 32 illustrates a process for warning based on cell phone locationsaccording to the principles of the present invention.

FIG. 33 illustrates a process for warning based on cell phone speedaccording to the principles of the present invention.

FIG. 34 illustrates a process for warning based on gps locations and orspeeds according to the principles of the present invention.

FIG. 35 illustrates a vehicle with transmitter and a vehicle with areceiver according to the principles of the present invention.

FIG. 36 illustrates a vehicle with transponder according to theprinciples of the present invention.

FIG. 37 illustrates a process flow diagram for determining warning basedon received information according to the principles of the presentinvention.

FIG. 38 illustrates a process flow diagram for maintaining vehicle speedbased on received information according to the principles of the presentinvention.

FIG. 39 illustrates a traffic information facility according to theprinciples of the present invention.

FIG. 40 illustrates a portable communication facility 4000 according tothe principles of the present invention.

FIG. 41 illustrates an in-vehicle communication facility according tothe principles of the present invention.

FIG. 42 illustrates a system for communicating with a telephoneanswering facility wherein information is communicated in a format to beviewed and or listened to through the communication platform accordingto the principles of the present invention.

FIG. 43 illustrates a method of retrieving information from acommunication answering facility wherein the download of information isfacilitated by a cell network according to the principles of the presentinvention.

FIG. 44 illustrates a method of retrieving information from acommunication answering facility wherein the information request isfulfilled in coordination with a location-based service according to theprinciples of the present invention.

FIG. 45 illustrates a method of downloading information from a portablecommunication facility to an in-vehicle location facility according tothe principles of the present invention.

FIG. 46 illustrates an answering service facility according to theprinciples of the present invention.

FIG. 47 illustrates a communication platform that includes an RFIDinterrogation facility to communicate an interrogation signal accordingto the principles of the present invention.

FIG. 48 illustrates an electronic information repository with a displayand a communication platform adapted to communicate with the informationrepository according to the principles of the present invention.

FIG. 49 illustrates an embodiment where a telephone answering servicefacility 4202 is in combination with other systems to facilitate thecommunication of information.

FIG. 49A illustrates a process for presenting a mobile communicationfacility user with information based at least in part on a user request.

FIG. 50 illustrate several systems and methods for loading destinationinformation into such systems.

FIG. 51 illustrates a screen shot from a mobile communication facilityaccording to the principles of the present invention.

FIG. 52 illustrates a screen shot from a mobile communication facilityaccording to the principles of the present invention.

FIG. 53 illustrates a secure location based service process according tothe principles of the present invention.

FIG. 54 illustrates a secure location based service user interface.

FIG. 55 illustrates a process for providing secure location informationtransactions through the use of a user interface controlled filter.

FIG. 56 illustrates a process for providing secure location informationtransactions through the use of an automatic filter for unwantedrequests (e.g. a spam filter).

FIG. 57 illustrates a process for providing secure location informationin coordination with a key facility.

FIG. 58 illustrates an embodiment involving user approval prior toproviding location information from the user's mobile communicationfacility.

FIG. 59 illustrates a cell phone tower communication progression methodand system according to the principles of the present invention.

FIG. 60 illustrates an improved telephone answering system according tothe principles of the present invention.

FIG. 61 illustrates an improved telephone answering process according toaspects of the present invention.

FIG. 62 illustrates a method of communicating with a telephone answeringsystem and or a web service.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S)

The description below pertains to several illustrative embodiments ofthe invention. Although many variations of the invention may beenvisioned by one skilled in the art, such variations and improvementsare intended to fall within the compass of this disclosure. Thus, thescope of the invention is not to be limited in any way by the disclosurebelow.

An aspect of the present invention relates to providing maps, routes,directions, navigation, and other information relating to routes and orlocations. In embodiments, maps, locations, routes and other informationis provided to assist a user in assessing such information before,during, after and or in compilation of traveling. For example, improvedmethods and systems for providing travel time estimates and alternateroutes are provided. These systems methods include, among other things,route generation in a real time mode and in a typical traffic conditionmode. The typical conditions may include, among other things, travelconditions during a certain time of day, week, and or year to provide animproved estimate of travel time during these periods.

FIG. 1 illustrates a map 100 according to the principles of the presentinvention. In an embodiment, the map includes representations ofhighways 102A and 102B as well as secondary roads 108 and access ramp104. The map may also include one or more landmarks, buildings,facilities and the like 110. A map according to the present inventionmay be used for a road map, trail map, facility map, store map, personallocation map, traffic map, or other map as may be useful to a user. Inan embodiment, the map may be used to facilitate setting directions,informing of congestion, informing of population, informing ofattractions, or provide other information useful to a user.

FIG. 2 illustrates a method for generating a map using a computer tofacilitate the generation 200 according to the principles of the presentinvention. The method 200 includes obtaining map information 202. Forexample, map information may be gathered through manual sources,reference sources, computer sources, online sources, or other sourceswhere map information may be found. The method 200 includes generating amap facilitated by a computer 204. For example, the information gatheredmay be used by a computer program to generate a map 100. The method 200includes displaying the map on a computer screen, mobile communicationdevice screen, or other screen adapted to display information to beavailable to a user 208. The method 200 includes a step of manipulatingthe map through the processing facility 210. For example, a user mayinteract with the map by zooming in and out, moving center of the map toanother location, or other interactions. In an embodiment, a user mayrequest a route from location to location and the computing facility mayprovide a suggested route. In an embodiment, the computing facility mayprovide an estimated travel time associated with the route.

FIG. 3 illustrates a mobile mapping facility 302 in an automobile 300according to the principles of the present invention. The automobile 300includes a cluster of performance meters 304 (e.g. speedometer). In anembodiment, the mobile mapping facility 302 may be affixed to anotherfacility (e.g. an automobile). In an embodiment, the mobile mappingfacility 302 may be a hand held or otherwise mobile for personalmobility. The mobile mapping facility 302 includes a display facilitywhere a map 100 may be displayed. The mobile mapping facility 302 mayinclude a computer operating facility to display the map as well asallow a user to interact with the map. The mapping facility 302 may alsoinclude a gps or other locating facility to provide location informationto the computing facility. In an embodiment, location information may beused to update the map, provide warnings, or other information. In anembodiment, a user may request a route from location to location and themobile mapping facility 302 may provide a suggested route. In anembodiment, the computing facility may provide an estimated travel timeassociated with the route. In an embodiment, the computing facility mayregenerate new route suggestions based on route information provided bythe user, gps facility, locating facility, external data or internaldata.

FIG. 4 illustrates a networked mapping facility 400 according to theprinciples of the present invention. The networked mapping facility 400includes a display facility 402 where a map 100 may be displayed forexample. The display may be associated with a local computing facility(not shown) and the computing facility may be associated with a servercomputing facility 404 through a network 408. In an embodiment, thenetwork 408 may be a local area network, wide area network, world wideweb, personal network or other network. For example, a user may use aclient application to access a website (e.g. mapquest.com) to request amap or directions. The server application may respond by providing theclient application with the desired map and or directions from locationto location. In an embodiment, the networked mapping facility 400 mayregenerate new route suggestions based on route information provided bythe user, gps facility, locating facility, external data or internaldata.

FIG. 5 illustrates a local mapping facility 500 according to theprinciples of the present invention. The local mapping facility 500includes a display facility 402 where a map 100 may be displayed forexample. The local mapping facility 500 includes a computing facility502 that is associated with the display facility 402. The computingfacility 502 may generate maps according to the principles of thepresent invention. In an embodiment, a user may interact with thecomputing facility to display, manipulate or otherwise interact with amap and or the mapping software used to generate the map. In anembodiment, the local mapping facility 500 may regenerate new routesuggestions based on route information provided by the user, gpsfacility, locating facility, external data or internal data.

FIG. 6 illustrates a local mapping facility associated with informationfacility 602. In an embodiment, the information facility may beassociated with the computing facility 502 through a network, or belocally accessible either internal or external to the computing facility502. In an embodiment, the information facility 602 may be adapted toprovide information to be used to generate a map or portion of a map.For example, the information facility may be a gps facility to generatelocation information, a database to supply route information, or otherinformation required and or desired for map and or direction generationand or modification.

An aspect of the present invention involves locating vehicles, people orother things and using that information to facilitate travel. In anembodiment, mobile phones, or other transmitters, are located throughtriangulation (e.g. TruePosition triangulation software for 911locations offered by TruePosition, Inc., King of Prussia, Pa.) or othertechniques to locate vehicles on roadways. In an embodiment, thelocations may be used to estimate roadway congestion and or travelspeed. For example, cell phones in an area may be located and mappedagainst a known roadway map to determine roadway congestion levels. Inanother example, the position of the cell phone locations over a periodof time may be tracked to estimate route speed. In an embodiment, cellphone locations are tracked while the cell phone is otherwise in normaluse. In another embodiment, cell phones in an area are requested totransmit so their positions can be determined.

FIG. 7 illustrates a location facility 700 according to the principlesof the present invention. In an embodiment, a cell phone 710, or othertransmitting device, is located through a triangulation system. Forexample, a user may be using their cell phone 710 and the triangulationsystem with cell towers 702A, 702B and 702C may locate and or track theposition of the cell phone. The cell phone location may be mapped onto aroadway map to provide location, speed and or other travel information.In an embodiment, the cell phone 710 may be requested to make atransmission so the triangulation, or other locating system, can locateand or track the position of the cell phone or mapping on a roadway orroute 704. The triangulation system may use a plurality of cell phonetowers 702 and the plurality of towers may listen to a cell phone 710transmissions 712. The transmissions 712 may be timed or power measuredto determine the position of the cell phone. While many of theembodiments described herein refer to cell phones and cell phonetriangulation techniques, the inventors envision many alternatetransmission and location systems and the present invention encompassessuch alternate transmission and location systems and methods. Forexample, a vehicle, cell phone or other device may be equipped with agps locating facility and the device may transmit its location toanother facility, or another facility may locate such device ortransmission.

FIG. 7 a illustrates the location system 700 according to the principlesof the present invention tracking the position of a vehicle. Thelocation system 800 includes a process for tracking the position of thecell phone 710 through second measurement of position 714. In anembodiment, the location system is used to track position and orestimate travel speed.

FIG. 8 illustrates a process for locating a cell phone or othertransmitting device 800 according to the present invention. The processinvolves requesting a cell phone to make a transmission 802. In anembodiment, cell phones in an area may be requested to make atransmission. For example, a single cell tower may transmit a request toall cell phones within its reception area. In an embodiment, specificcell phone(s) may be requested to make transmissions. For example, knownphone numbers (e.g. a block of known numbers) may be requested. In anembodiment, blocks of cell phones may be requested to make transmissionsthrough staggered times to avoid an over-flow of information. Theprocess of locating 800 further includes determining the cell phone(s)location through triangulation, or other means 804. The process alsoincludes recording the cell phone locations 808. in an embodiment,recordation may be used to track the location and or determine the speedof the cell phone position change. In another embodiment, recordation808 may not be accomplished. For example, a picture of cell phonelocations may provide a congestion map whereby traffic conditions, orother parameters, are determined without needing an indication of speed.

FIG. 9 illustrates a process for determining the speed, distance,direction, velocity or other parameter from a cell phone or othertransmitting device according to the principles of the presentinvention. The process involves determining a first position of the cellphone 902, determining a second position of the cell phone 904, anddetermining the distance difference between the first and secondpositions and estimate the speed based on the known time betweenmeasurements 908.

FIG. 10 illustrates a process for locating global positioning devices(gps) according to the principles of the present invention. The processinvolves several satellites 1004 and transmissions 1010 between thesatellites and the gps chip 1002.

FIG. 11 illustrates a process for determining the speed, distance,direction, velocity or other parameter from a gps device according tothe principles of the present invention. The process involvesdetermining a first position of the gps device 1102, determining asecond position of the gps device 1104, and determining the distancedifference between the first and second positions and estimate the speedbased on the known time between measurements 1108.

FIG. 12 illustrates a traffic pattern map 1200 according to theprinciples of the present invention. In this embodiment, the traffic map1200 includes an indication of a roadway 1202 and on-ramp to the roadway1204. The traffic map 1200 also includes an indication of trafficpatterns where the congestion is light 1208 and relatively heavy 1210.

FIG. 13 illustrates a traffic monitoring system 1300 according to theprinciples of the present invention including a camera 1304. In anembodiment, the camera 1304 may be used to track traffic and or trafficpatterns on a roadway 1302.

FIG. 14 illustrates a traffic monitoring system 1400 according to theprinciples of the present invention including a counting system 1404. Inan embodiment, the counting system 1404 includes a counting facility1408 that lays on, in, under, or over the roadway 1402 to track traffic.

FIG. 15 illustrates a traffic monitoring system 1500 according to theprinciples of the present invention, wherein the monitoring isaccomplished through tollbooth monitors 1504. The tollbooth monitors1504 may be people, transponders, transponders receivers or otherdevices to monitor the flow of traffic through the tollbooth.

FIG. 16 illustrates a traffic monitoring system 1600 according to theprinciples of the present invention, wherein the monitoring isaccomplished through transponders 1608 which may be in a vehicle 1604with readers 1602 associated with the roadway. In this example, thereaders are mounted near the roadway.

FIG. 17 illustrates a traffic monitoring system 1700 according to theprinciples of the present invention, wherein the monitoring isaccomplished through transponders 1608 which may be in a vehicle 1604with readers 1702 associated with the roadway. In this example, thereaders are mounted in the roadway. In an embodiment, traffic may bemonitored through manual counting or other means controlled by a human's1704 interactions.

FIG. 18 illustrates a traffic monitoring system 1800 according to theprinciples of the present invention, wherein the monitoring isaccomplished through transponders 1608 which may be in a vehicle 1604with a reader 1804 associated with a roadway sign 1802.

FIG. 18A illustrates a traffic monitoring system according to theprinciples of the present invention, wherein the monitoring isaccomplished through a radar 1810 system.

FIG. 19 illustrates a map of traffic density 1900 according to theprinciples of the present invention. In an embodiment, various trafficpatterns are represented by various symbols, lines, line widths, and thelike. For example, a thick line 1908 may represent relatively heavycongestion, a thin line 1904 may represent light congestion, and amedium weight line 1902 may represent a typical congestion condition.

FIG. 20 illustrates a map of traffic flow 2000 according to theprinciples of the present invention. In an embodiment, various trafficflow patterns are represented by various symbols, lines, line widths,and the like. For example, a thick line 2008 may represent relativelyslow traffic flow, a thin line 2004 may represent quick moving traffic,and a medium weight line 2002 may represent a typical flow pattern.

An aspect of the present invention relates to estimating travel timebased on travel conditions. In an embodiment, the estimations are basedon typical travel conditions. In an embodiment, the estimations arebased on real time travel conditions.

FIG. 21 illustrates a process for predicting traffic performance withina route 2100. The process includes selecting a route portion 2102,selecting a statistic to predict route performance 2104, applying thestatistic to route portion data to calculate a prediction of routeperformance 2108, and presenting the route performance to a user 2110.In an embodiment, the step of selecting a statistic 2104 may involveselecting any number of statistics such as average, mean, mode, median,standard deviation, or other statistic to be applied to the dataassociated with the traffic on the route. In an embodiment, thestatistic may be applied to data over a given period. For example, thedata for the route may be provided during the course of an hour in agiven day and the statistic (e.g. median) may be applied to the hoursworth of data to predict travel time during the hour.

FIG. 22 illustrates a process for predicting traffic performance withina route 2200. The process includes selecting a route portion 2202,selecting a typical statistic to predict route performance 2204,applying the typical statistic to route portion data to calculate aprediction of route performance 2208, and presenting the routeperformance to a user 2210. In an embodiment, the step of selecting atypical statistic 2104 may involve selecting any number of statisticssuch as average, mean, mode, median, standard deviation, or otherstatistic to be applied to the data associated with the traffic on theroute. In an embodiment, the statistic may be applied to data over agiven period. For example, the data for the route may be provided duringthe course of an hour in a given day and the statistic (e.g. median) maybe applied to the hours worth of data to predict travel time during alike the hour.

FIG. 23 illustrates a process for predicting traffic performance withina route 2300. The process includes selecting a route portion 2302,selecting a statistic to predict real time route performance 2304,applying the statistic to route portion data to calculate a predictionof route performance 2308, presenting the route performance to a user2310, and repeating the steps 2304, 2308, and 2310 to update theinformation.

FIG. 24 illustrates a process for presenting a shortest route usingspeed limits and a shortest route using typical route conditions 2400.In an embodiment, the process involves selecting a route portion 2402,selecting speed limit(s) on the route portion 2404, applying the speedlimit(s) to the route portion 2408, and presenting route performance(e.g. predicted route travel time) based on speed limits 2410. In anembodiment, the process also involves selecting a statistic to measurethe performance of the route portion 2412, applying the statistic to theroute portion to predict route performance 2414, and presenting routeperformance based on the statistic 2418. For example, a user may want tosee information relating to a desired route regardless of the trafficconditions as well as seeing information relating to the shortest routegiven normal or typical route conditions.

FIG. 25 illustrates a process for presenting a plurality of routes basedon typical times in each route 2500. In an embodiment, the processinvolves calculating a first route and associated first route traveltime 2502, calculating a second route and associated second route traveltime 2504, and presenting first and second routes including respectivetravel time 2508. For example, a user may want to see more than onesuggested travel route based on typical travel conditions.

An aspect of the present invention relates to travel time predictionbased on typical conditions. In an embodiment, the travel timeprediction is based at least in part on a projected start time of thetravel and or when a traveler will reach a particular point along atravel route. For example, travel conditions change through a day,depending on the day of the week, week of the month or whether thetravel day lands on a holiday, typical vacation or light travel time orduring a period where there is an event, sporting event or othercondition that tends to increase travel time on a particular route. Anembodiment of the present invention involves estimating travel timebased on travel periods.

FIG. 26 illustrates a process for presenting a route based on startingtime 2600. In an embodiment, the process involves selecting a starttravel time, starting point and destination 2602, calculating a firstroute and associated first route travel time based on a start time 2604,and presenting the first route and associated route travel time based ona start time 2608. For example, a predicted route time may be dependanton when the travel is going to begin and or when the traveler is goingto reach a certain portion of the route, so the user may be interestedin route performance based on start time, end time, time of arrival at aparticular point along the travel, day of the week, week of the year,holiday status, or the like.

FIG. 27 illustrates a display facility where information to guide travelis presented, including a provision of selecting start time 2700. In anembodiment, the information includes a map 2702 with a route 2722. In anembodiment, the information also includes an indication of travel timeif started at a particular time, 7 am Monday, Jan. 5, 2003, 2704, anindication of travel time if started one hour earlier, and an indicationof travel time if started one hour later. In an embodiment, theinformation presented also includes the travel start time 2712 alongwith a toggle up 2714 and toggle down 2718 to move the start time backor forward. In an embodiment, the information also includes anindication of the month and day 2720. In embodiments, a graph ofestimated route travel time 2274 is presented. The graph may include thetime of day the traveler intends to leave 2732, estimated travel time2728, and an plot of travel time estimates 2730.

FIG. 28 illustrates a display facility where information to guide travelis presented, including information relating to the shortest travel timebased on speed limits, shortest travel time based on typical travelconditions, and shortest travel time based on present travel conditions2800. In an embodiment, the information includes a map withrepresentations of the routes with the shortest travel time based onspeed limits 2802, shortest travel time based on typical travelconditions 2804, and shortest travel time based on present travelconditions 2808. In an embodiment, the information also includes thepredicted times associated with the shortest travel time based on speedlimits 2810, shortest travel time based on typical travel conditions2812, and shortest travel time based on present travel conditions 2814.

FIG. 29 illustrates a display facility where information to guide travelis presented, including presenting alternate route based on trafficinformation 2900. In an embodiment, the information includes a map witha route 2902 and an alternate route based on traffic conditioninformation 2904.

In embodiments, the systems and methods described in connection withFIGS. 21 through 29 may be deployed while using a mobile communicationfacility (e.g. cell phone, mobile phone, satellite phone, internetphone, network phone, portable communication facility, wireless phone,pda, combination pda/mobile phone, Palm® system, Blackberry® system,in-vehicle communication facility, in-vehicle navigation facility,in-vehicle information facility), desktop computing facility, laptopcomputing facility, portable computing facility, client-server facility,local computing facility, networked based computing facility, internetappliance, internet computing facility or other such system useful indisplaying and or interacting with such information.

While many of the embodiments describe the use of transponders and ortransmitters, the present invention is not limited to a particulardevice or method of communication. For example, a transmitter may beused in place of a transmitter in an embodiment.

An aspect of the present invention is a user alert system. In anembodiment, a user loads a route to be taken and an automated systemprovides information to the user to give the user an update as to travelconditions for the route. For example, the route of Rt. 95 south intoNYC is loaded to be traveled, and or being traveled, on Wednesday.Congestion occurs (e.g. as a result of an accident or construction) inthe route and the route information system sends a alert to the user.The alert may come in the form of calls, emails, text messages, voicemessages, video messages or otherwise provides information to the userrelating to the alert. The alert may be communicated to the users mobilecommunication facility (e.g. cell phone, mobile phone, satellite phone,internet phone, network phone, portable communication facility, wirelessphone, pda, combination pda/mobile phone, Palm® system, Blackberry®system, in-vehicle communication facility, in-vehicle navigationfacility, in-vehicle information facility), desktop computing facility,laptop computing facility, portable computing facility, client-serverfacility, local computing facility, networked based computing facility,internet appliance, internet computing facility or other such systemuseful in displaying and or interacting with such information. The alertmay contain information to relating to identifying the accident and orcongestion, time estimates for clearing the congestion, travel timeestimates, alternate route information, alternate route suggestions,time estimates associated with alternate routes or other informationrelated to the alert. In an embodiment, the alert system take the formof a call system that calls the user's mobile communication facility. Inan embodiment, the user may use a web based routing system (e.g.mapquest.com) and load a mobile phone number into the web based routingsystem and the routing system may call the user with periodic updates asto the route conditions and or call the user with information relatingto abnormal route conditions. In an embodiment, the call back system maysuggest alternate routes and or predict the impact of abnormalconditions. For example, the call back system may call the user andinform the driver of a fifteen minute delay due to an accident andprovide no alternate route or provide information indicating it is notworth seeking alternate routes. In an embodiment, the call back systemmay call the user with information relating to alternate routes. Inembodiments, the user may preload route and or destination information,prior to or during travel, into a system and the user may be providedwith information relating to the route and or destination prior to orduring travel. For example, the user may be alerted through his mobilecommunication facility prior to leaving on the trip. For example, theuser may have loaded a work destination into the system and the systemmay call him (email, or otherwise (e.g. an alert as described herein))an hour prior to the trip to inform the user of travel conditions,alternate route suggestions or other information (e.g. route, direction,navigation information). The system may be programmed to send the alert,or update, only when problems, congestion, or other abnormalities occur,or the system may be programmed to provide information everyday, everyworkday, or periodically, or based on some other parameter.

FIG. 29A illustrates systems and methods for communicating routeinformation according to aspects of the present invention. Inembodiments, a user may use a mobile communication facility (e.g. cellphone, mobile phone, satellite phone, internet phone, network phone,portable communication facility, wireless phone, pda, combinationpda/mobile phone, Palm® system, Blackberry® system, in-vehiclecommunication facility, in-vehicle navigation facility, in-vehicleinformation facility) 2908 to access route, direction, navigation orother travel information. While these embodiments are described inconnection with mobile communication facilities, it should be understoodthat other computing facilities, such as desktop, laptop, internetappliance, and others, are contemplated by the present invention and areencompassed by the present invention. Elements 2910A-2910E representvarious screen shots according to the principles of the presentinvention from mobile communication facility 2908. Screen shot 2910Arepresents an embodiment where various routes, destinations, directions,traffic information, congestion information, route information,navigation information, or other information relating to travel may bestored. For example, the mobile communication facility may includelinks, buttons, connections or other such facilities 2912A-2912D. Inthis embodiment, connection 2912A may represent a menu connection toroute information, traffic information, congestion information,directions, navigation information or other such information relating toa destination the user labeled or the system labeled “school,” while2912B may related to such information pertaining to a place of work,2912C may be a connection to information pertaining to the user's home,and 2912D may relate to another destination of interest to the user“NYC.” In embodiments, the user may load destinations, directions, routeinformation, navigation information, and the like in connection withsuch menu items to make for convenient retrieval at a later time.

FIG. 29A illustrates a screen shot 2910B according to the principles ofthe present invention. Screen shot 2910B illustrates an embodiment wherea user may track his route, route performance (e.g. speed, distance,time of day) or otherwise collect information relating to his route. Inthis embodiment, the user may have the option to choose a function (e.g.possibly from a menu) to start the recordation of the route and or routeinformation 2914B. The user may also be presented with an option to endthe recording 2914C. The user may also be presented with an option toname the recording 2914D.

FIG. 29A illustrates a screen shot 2910C according to the principles ofthe present invention. Screen shot 2910C illustrates an embodiment wherea user may set a time when he expects to start on a route or head to adestination. For example, a user may set the time he expects to starthis travel through a menu style option 2918C and select a route and ordestination through a menu 2918B or other facility (e.g. typing in thedestination, calling a voice recognition system to load the destination,using voice recognition in the phone to load the destination, receivingthe destination from an automated telephone answering system asdescribed below in connection with the principles of the presentinvention). In an embodiment, the user may set the time to begin travelto a destination at some time before travel begins (e.g. the nightbefore going to work) and an alert notification system as describedherein in connection with the principles of the present invention (e.g.a voice mail, email, text message, video message or the like) mayprovide traffic alerts, route information, alternate route suggestions,alternate route information, or other information pertaining to the tripthe traveler has planned. In an embodiment, the user may be presentedwith options to save times and routes as recurring. For example, theuser may set the time he normally travels to and or from work along withhis work destination and or route as a recurring to be provided withrecurring route information, before during or following his trip. Therecurring stored information may relate to work, home, periodic travelplans, school, activities or other destinations, routes, directions,navigation, or other route information. In an embodiment, the recurringalert system may be set to provide alerts continually, at set times,recurring at set times everyday, during week days, during weekends, ifthe route conditions are not typical, if it is typical, if there areproblems expected, at a specified time before travel is expected, orotherwise.

FIG. 29A illustrates a screen shot 2910D according to the principles ofthe present invention. Screen shot 2910D illustrates an embodiment wherea user may display information pertaining to route performance,direction, navigation or other information relating to travel. In thisembodiment, the screen shot contains a graph of route performancesimilar to that described in connection with FIGS. 27-29.

FIG. 29A illustrates a screen shot 2910E according to the principles ofthe present invention. Screen shot 2910E illustrates an embodiment wherea user may select a link, button, menu selection, or other connection2920A to obtain route and or navigation information. For example, theconnection 2920A may be selected to check traffic on a given route andor the route the user is currently traveling. The user may be sitting intraffic and want to know how long the delay will be, what is causing thedelay, alternative route information, number of miles until thecongestion breaks up, or other information relating to the route. Inanother situation, the user may be moving along the route at expectedspeeds and want an update as to the route performance ahead, trafficahead, alternative route, expected delays, or other information. In anembodiment, the phone may connect with a route information service uponselection of the connection 2920A. The route information service mayalready have the route information for the route or road the travel haschosen to check or the road the traveler is on. In another embodiment,the route information service may gather the information upon therequest. For example, the route information service may monitor thetraffic on main roads and highways in a real time or near real timemanner, but the service may not track performance of smaller, lesstraveled, secondary or other roads or areas. Upon request, the routeinformation service may ‘ping’ cell phones or other transmitters in thearea of the user to assess the traffic condition and then report back tothe user. In an embodiment, the service may provide updates on aperiodic basis.

In embodiments, a data collection facility may be incorporated into a,or associated with a, mobile communication facility. The data collectionfacility may be adapted to collect information pertaining to the user'shabits and apply the data collected through algorithms to help determinefuture performance. For example, the collection facility may collectinformation on the user's travel habits (e.g. how fast he typicallydrives as compared to speed limits and or other traffic) and thisinformation may be used in the prediction or estimates of future traveltimes. For example, when predicting the travel time based on the time ofday, or other parameter, the fact that the user normally exceeds speedlimits by five to ten miles per hour may be factored into the travelestimate (e.g. applied to the sections of travel where light traffic isexpected).

An aspect of the present invention relates to warning of trafficconditions. In an embodiment, a traffic tracking facility may be used togenerate a warning signal and the warning signal may be transmitted to avehicle in close proximity to a traffic condition. For example, atracking facility may track traffic patterns and locate an abnormaltraffic condition (e.g. an accident, construction, traffic congestion,or vehicles traveling a significantly slower rates than a speed limit orpredicted speed) and a warning facility may be used to warn vehicles inclose proximity to the abnormal traffic condition.

FIG. 30 illustrates warning through an on-dash signal 3002 according tothe principles of the present invention. In an embodiment, a driver maybe warned of a traffic condition through the on-dash signal 3002. Theon-dash placement of the signal is one example of a useful placement ofa visual warning facility, the present invention encompasses other typesand placements of visual warning facilities as well as audio facilitiesand warning through physical contact methods (e.g. vibration). Forexample, an external signal may be received by the warning facility inthe vehicle and the external signal may provide warning information toalert the driver. In an embodiment, a traffic tracking system maymonitor the traffic conditions in an area and the tracking system maygenerate warning signals to vehicles in close proximity to a particulartraffic condition. For example, the tracking system may detect anunusual traffic condition indicating abnormally slow traffic in closeproximity with traffic that is moving at significantly higher speeds.The tracking position system may ascertain information relating to thetraffic in the higher speed portion (e.g. through cell phoneidentification, through on-board vehicle identification, through gpsidentification) and communicate to the vehicles in the higher speedtraffic portion information indicating the abnormal traffic condition.

FIG. 31 illustrates warning facility 3102 through on board mappingsystem 302 according to the principles of the present invention. In anembodiment, the on board mapping system 302 may display a warningindication 3102 to provide a driver with information pertaining totraffic conditions. For example, the on board mapping system may receiveinformation relating to slower traffic in the planned route or routecurrently traveling, and the mapping system may generate an indicationon the map 100 indicating the slower traffic. In an embodiment, an audiowarning may accompany a display indication.

FIG. 32 illustrates a process for warning of traffic conditions based oncell phone locations 3200 according to the principles of the presentinvention. In an embodiment, the process involves tracking vehicleposition based on cell phone locations 3202, identifying a trafficcondition based on the cell phone locations 3204, identifying vehiclesin close proximity to the traffic condition through cell phoneidentification 3208, and warning the vehicles in close proximity to thetraffic condition through a warning facility based on the cell phoneidentification 3210.

FIG. 33 illustrates a process for warning of traffic conditions based oncell phone speed 3300 according to the principles of the presentinvention. In an embodiment, the process involves tracking vehicle speedbased on cell phone locations 3302, identifying a traffic conditionbased on the cell phone speeds 3204, identifying vehicles in closeproximity to the traffic condition through cell phone identification3208, and warning the vehicles in close proximity to the trafficcondition through a warning facility based on the cell phoneidentification 3210.

FIG. 34 illustrates a process for warning based on gps locations and orspeeds 3400 according to the principles of the present invention. In anembodiment, the process involves tracking vehicle position and or speedbased on gps locations 3402, identifying a traffic condition based onthe gps locations 3404, identifying vehicles in close proximity to thetraffic condition through cell phone identification, transmissionidentification and or gps facility transmission 3408, and warning thevehicles in close proximity to the traffic condition through a warningfacility 3410.

FIG. 35 illustrates a system and method for communicating from a vehiclewith transmitter to a vehicle with a receiver according to theprinciples of the present invention 3500. In an embodiment, a firstvehicle 3502A includes a transmitter 3504 and a second vehicle 3502Bincludes a receiver 3510. In an embodiment, the first vehicle 3502A maytransmit information relating to its performance (e.g. speed,acceleration, deceleration, braking, temperature) to the second vehicle3502B. For example, the transmission range of the transmitter 3504 maybe short range (e.g. 100 yards) and the first vehicle may generate andcommunicate information relating to its speed or rate of change in speedthrough its transmitter 3504. A vehicle within the transmitter range,for example the second vehicle 3502B, may receive the information. Inand embodiment, the second vehicle 3502B may automatically respond tothe information (e.g. by decelerating if the indication is the firstvehicle 3502A is decelerating) or a warning facility in the secondvehicle 3502B may generate and communicate a warning or other indicationto the driver of the second vehicle 3502B. In an embodiment, thetransmitter 3504 may have a long range (e.g. one mile). The transmitter3504 may transmit information relating to the performance of the vehicleand vehicles within the transmission range may receive the information.For example, the speed of the first vehicle 3502A may be abnormallyslow, or significantly slower than the speed of a following secondvehicle 3502B. The second vehicle may include a warning facility and thewarning facility may generate a warning for the driver of the secondvehicle of slower up coming traffic. A method of communicatinginformation over a relatively long range may be useful to warn up comingtraffic of abnormal traffic conditions such as an accident,construction, or other congestion. In an embodiment, constructionequipment (e.g. machines, trucks, barriers, signs) are equipped withsuch transmitters to warn of construction activity.

FIG. 36 illustrates a vehicle with transponder according to theprinciples of the present invention 3600. In an embodiment, a vehicle3502 may include a transponder 3602 that may be activated by anothervehicle in close proximity.

FIG. 37 illustrates a process flow diagram for determining warning basedon received information 3700 according to the principles of the presentinvention. In an embodiment, the process involves transmitting anindication of a vehicle condition from a first vehicle 3702, receivingthe indication at a second vehicle 3704, and communicating a warning inthe second vehicle 3708.

FIG. 38 illustrates a process flow diagram for maintaining vehicle speedbased on received information 3800 according to the principles of thepresent invention. In an embodiment, the process involves transmittingan indication of a vehicle speed from a first vehicle 3802, receivingthe indication at a second vehicle 3804, and controlling and ormodifying the speed of the second vehicle based on the indication 3808.

An aspect of the present invention relates to systems and methods ofproviding route information, navigation, and or directions. Inembodiments, a traveler may use a mobile communication facility, cellphone, or other communication facility to connect with a routeinformation system. The route information system may locate the travelerthrough a location facility in coordination with route or mappinginformation. The traveler may request information relating to routes andor directions from the route information facility, for example throughcell phone interaction. The traveler may request information relating toa preloaded route for example. In embodiments, the route informationsystem may automatically provide route information pertaining to theapparent route the traveler is on. The traveler may be provided with anopportunity to select route options or alternatives. In an embodiment,the traveler may activate the route information facility through use ofa cell phone. Similar to the cell phone activated 411 telephoneinformation system (where phone number information is provided), thetraveler may dial an access code (e.g. 411, 511, *71, etc.) to beconnected with the system. Once connected, the traveler may requestdirection and or route information relating to a destination. Forexample, he may request directions to the “YMCA in Danvers, Mass.”. Theroute information system may then look up, or be used to look up, thedestination address, locate the traveler (e.g. through cell phonetriangulation), and provide the traveler directions to the destination.In embodiments, the traveler may request directions to a type ofdestination (e.g. gas station, hotel, ATM) or landmark (e.g. StateHouse) or activity (e.g. arcade).

FIG. 39 illustrates a travel information system 3900 according to theprinciples of the present invention. As described herein in connectionwith FIG. 7, a cellular tower system may be associated with a locationfacility 3902. The location facility 3902 may provide location, speed,or other information relating to a transmitter (e.g. cell phone). Thetravel information system 3900 may also include a route informationfacility 3904. The route information facility 3904 may be associatedwith a destination database 3912, a route database 3914 and a trafficinformation database 3918. In an embodiment, the destination database3912 may include information relating to destination locations. Forexample, it may be a database with associations between phone numbers,street addresses, towns, states, countries, type of destination, type oflandmark, type of activity or other information relating todestinations. The destination database may also include informationrelating to preloaded destination(s). For example, a traveler may loadinformation relating to a destination to be later retrieved.

In an embodiment, the route information database 3914 may includeinformation relating to travel routes. For example, it may include maps,map information, traffic information, travel condition information,travel times, travel time predictions, or other information regarding toroutes, navigation, and or directions. In an embodiment, the trafficinformation database 3918 may include information relating to routetraffic, alternate routes, route times, route time predictions, typicalroute performance or other information relating to routes and ordirections.

While the destination database 3912, route database 3914, and trafficinformation databases are illustrated as separate databases, it shouldbe understood that these and other databases may be combined or furtherseparated, and associations may be made between the data in thedatabases.

The route information facility 3904 may use information in the databases(e.g. databases 3912, 3914, 3918) as well as information from thelocation facility 3902 to provide information to the traveler. Inembodiments, a traveler connects with the route information facility3904 through a cell phone, or other communication facility, transmission3910. For example, the traveler may initiate a connection by dialing anaccess code (e.g. 411 or *73). Once connected, the route informationfacility 3904 may gather information from the location facility 3902 ordatabases 3912, 3914, and 3918 to provide information to the traveler.

In an embodiment, route information may be preloaded into a routeinformation facility 3904, or associated facility or database, and theroute information facility 3904 may provide traffic informationpertaining to the route given a travelers location. For example, atraveler may dial a specific phone number or code (e.g. *73) on his cellphone to access the route information facility 3904. The routeinformation facility 3904 may then locate the traveler's position (e.g.using cell phone triangulation, or gps location) and associate theposition with the preloaded route information. The traveler may then beprovided with route specific travel conditions (e.g. congestion, traveltime estimates or predictions).

In an embodiment, the traveler may also be informed about alternateroutes or alternate route performance. For example, the traveler may betraveling on I-93S towards Boston when initiating the call. The routeinformation facility 3904 may recognize his position as being close tothe Sullivan Square exit. The traffic conditions on the highway todowntown may be such that taking the Sullivan Square exit andcorresponding alternative route to downtown may cut time off thetraveler's trip. The traveler may be informed of the route performance,comparison of times estimated, predicted times, or the like.

In an embodiment, the traveler may take the alternate route and make anindication (e.g. key stroke) telling the route information facility 3904of his decision. In an embodiment, the traveler stays engaged with theroute information facility 3904, the system monitors his position andrecognizes the new route. The route information facility 3904 may thencommunicate new route instructions. The new route instructions may beprovided as complete instructions, stepwise, or otherwise.

In an embodiment, a route information facility 3904 identifies atraveler's position (e.g. through cell phone triangulation), associatesthe position with a roadway, and predicts the route the traveler istaking. For example, the traveler may initiate a call to the routeinformation facility 3904 while traveling on I-93S towards Boston. Theroute information facility 3904 may recognize the traveler's position,associate a roadway with the traveler's position and predict he istraveling I-93 S to Boston or some destination before or after Boston.In an embodiment, traveler would then be informed of traffic conditionson I-93S ahead of the traveler. For example, the traveler may beinformed of traffic conditions up to and or through Boston.

In an embodiment, a traveler may select route options to instruct theroute information facility 3904 of the travelers route intentions. Forexample, the route information facility 3904 may identify the traveleras traveling on I-93S towards Boston (e.g. through cell phonetriangulation) and provide route options to the traveler to select aroute other than continuing on I-93S towards Boston. The options may bemenu driven (e.g. select one for I-495S, two for I-495N), exit driven(e.g. type in your exit number), or otherwise driven for indicating adesired or intended route (e.g. voice recognition indications). In anembodiment, the traveler may be provided information relating to theselected route.

In an embodiment, a traveler may load route and or destinationinformation into a route information facility 3904 and later activate adirection system through his mobile communicator (e.g. cell phone,on-board transmitter). For example, the traveler may load destinationand or route information into a computing system via the internet orother means. The traveler may then connect with the route informationfacility 3904 to obtain directions. The monitoring system may locate thetraveler through triangulation or other means and provide directions perthe preloaded route information and or preloaded destinationinformation. The information may be provided in a stepwise, complete orother fashion.

In an embodiment, voice recognition software may be employed to providethe traveler with a convenient way of loading route and or destinationinformation. For example, a traveler may be on the road and call into amonitoring system to load a destination facilitated by voice activation.The destination may include a street address, phone number or otherindication of the destination. In an embodiment, the traveler may use aphone keyboard to load the phone number of the desired destination. Themonitoring system may then look up the corresponding address to provideroute and or destination information. Once the route and or destinationinformation are loaded, the traveler may connect with the monitoringsystem for directions, time estimations, traffic conditions or otherinformation.

In an embodiment, a traveler may request directions to a type ofdestination (e.g. gas station, coffee shop, Dunkin Donuts, Star Bucks,shopping center, Hotel) to a monitoring system. The system may locatethe traveler and provide directions to the destination chosen. Forexample, the system may accept voice commands to identify thedestination type. The voice commands may direct a menu and or berecognized as types of destinations. In another example, keys of a phonemay be used to select types of destinations from a menu.

In an embodiment, a user may call into a information system, identify adestination, and provided directions or other route information. Forexample, the user may use a cell phone to call an information system(e.g. 411), identify a business or residence along with approximatelocation (e.g. state and town), and then be provided directions to thespecific location. In an embodiment, the directions may be provided fromthe user's cell phones location. For example, a traveler may betraveling to the YMCA in Danvers, Mass. and require assistance ingetting to the location. The traveler may use his cell phone to call‘information’ asking for directions to the YMCA in Danvers, Mass. Thesystem may be used to look up the street address of the YMCA, identifythe travelers location (e.g. through cell phone triangulation or gps)and provide directions from the travelers present location to the YMCAdestination. In an embodiment, the directions may be provided in totalso the traveler can disconnect from the system. In an embodiment, thedirections may be provided in stepwise fashion, guiding each step of thetraveler's route (e.g. “take next right at Main St.”). In an embodiment,the direction instructions may be altered to accommodate unforeseenobstacles (e.g. the traveler misses a turn, encounters construction, ordetours).

While many of the embodiments illustrate direct communication with theroute information facility (e.g. cell phone communication to the routeinformation facility) embodiments may include communication throughother facilities. For example, the cell phone communication may occurthrough the location facility and the location facility may beassociated with the route information facility. There are many suchvariations envisioned by the inventors and such variations are includedin various embodiments.

In embodiments, the route information facility may be associated with aroute prediction facility. A route prediction facility may be a facilityused to predict route performance based on current and or past route andor associated route performance.

FIG. 40 illustrates a portable communication facility 4000 according tothe principles of the present invention. In embodiments, a portablecommunication facility 4000 may be a cell phone, mobile phone, walkietalkie, satellite phone, pda, web device, Blackberry device, emaildevice, web browsing facility, in-vehicle communication facility,in-vehicle navigation facility, in-vehicle information facility or otherfacility used for mobile and or portable communication. In embodiments,the portable communication facility may include a display facility 4006,a keyboard 4008 (e.g. numbered key on a phone, or alpha-numeric keys ofa pda), and an antenna 4002 to facilitate communications with otherfacilities using wireless communication techniques.

In embodiments, a portable communication facility 4000 may be used tocommunicate with a route information facility 3904. For example, a cellphone may be used in one or two-way communication with the routeinformation facility 3904. An example of two-way communication may bewhen the cell phone is used to connect with the route informationfacility and facilitate communication of a query (e.g. dialing 411 andrequesting information pertaining to a location) and the phone is alsobe used to receive information pertaining to the query. For example, theroute information facility may communicate directions to a location froma present location of the traveler through audio communication (e.g.directions the traveler can listen to on his cell phone). The routeinformation system may also communicate directions, or other routeinformation, through display signals. For example, the directions 4010information may be communicated to be displayed on the display facility4006 of the cell phone or pda or other facility. This way the travelerhas a visual indication of the directions.

In embodiments, the cell phone, or other portable communicationfacility, may be used in one-way communications, either sending orreceiving. For example, the cell phone may be used to facilitate aninitial query (e.g. get me directions to the location) but thedirections may be sent to another facility. For example, a vehicle maybe equipped with a travel information system, LCD screen, or otherfacility with a display facility and the direction information may besent to the vehicles display. In an embodiment, an association between ausers cell phone and vehicle system may be made to facilitatecommunications to the vehicle following a cell phone initiatedcommunication. In an embodiment, the receiving facility may be anotherportable communication facility (e.g. pda). Again, an association may bemade between portable communication facilities to facilitate thedirections of the communications.

In an embodiment, a traveler may request directions or other routeinformation from a route information facility without the assistance ofan automatic location facility. For example, a traveler may connect tothe route information facility via a portable communication facility(e.g. a cell phone) and request directions or route information from alocation the traveler identifies to the route information facility. Forexample, the traveler may know his location (e.g. corner of Main St. andElm St., in Danvers, Mass.) and instruct the route information facilityof his present location along with his desired destination. Inembodiments, the traveler may speak this information, write, type, keyor other communicate the information. In embodiments, the routeinformation facility may receive the information via human interaction,automatically or semi-automatically. For example, a human may receivethe information, or a voice recognition facility may be used. The routeinformation facility may be manual, automatic or semi-automatic itselfin an embodiment. For example, it may receive information through humaninteraction, the person may look up travel, route, or directioninformation on a computer facility (e.g. www.mapquest.com) fordirections per the given location and destination, and the person maycommunicate the information back to the traveler.

FIG. 41 illustrates an in-vehicle communication facility 4102 accordingto the principles of the present invention. In embodiments, thein-vehicle communication facility 4102 is mounted on or in the vehicle,4100. The in-vehicle communication facility 4102 may include a displayfacility 4104 where route information and or directions may bedisplayed. The in-vehicle communication facility 4104 may also include auser interface 4108. For example, the user interface 4108 may be used toinitiate contact with a location facility and or a route informationfacility. The in-vehicle communication facility 4104 may also include anaudio system 4110 adapted to receive (e.g. a microphone) and or transmit(e.g. a speaker) audio information.

An aspect of the present invention relates to systems and methods usedto communicate information from a telephone answering facility. Inembodiments, information from a telephone answering facility iscommunicated (e.g. as a result of a user prompt or call) through digitaldata that can be received and viewed as text, image, and or other visualcontent through the use of a communication platform (e.g. a mobilecommunication facility, a cell phone, pda, BlackBerry®, PalmPilot®,remote communication facility, landline communication facility, wirelesscommunication facility, in-vehicle communication facility, in-vehiclenavigation facility, in-vehicle information facility, or desktopcommunication facility). In embodiments, the information may contain andbe formatted to be received and retrievable through an audioreproduction facility (e.g. a cell phone). For example, a user may use acell phone to call an answering facility to request information.Information may then be communicated by the answering facility to thecell phone. The information received by the cell phone may include text,image and or sound information. The information may then be stored inthe cell phone, or in another associated facility (e.g. remote memorylocation accessible by the cell phone). The user of the cell phone maythan be able to retrieve the information and read the text, view theimage, and listen to the audio information provided.

In embodiments, the information communicated from the telephoneanswering facility to the communication platform may include informationpertaining to a business, retailer, residence, home, or otherestablishment associated with the telephone answering facility. Forexample, the information may include information pertaining to thelocation of a store, directions to a location, sale information, couponinformation, hours of operation, inventory, item selection, movie times,cost information or other desired information. For example, a user maycall a store to get directions and an answering facility may respond(e.g. automatically or through a user prompt) by sending information tothe user's cell phone for user viewing. The user can then view theinformation and or store the information for later viewing. The user mayopen a message or file to retrieve the information. In embodiments,directions provided may be generic directions (e.g. from a knownlandmark, roadway or highway), user location specific directions (e.g.based on the triangulation or gps coordinates of the cell phone),navigation, user specific directions based on typical route conditions,based on current route conditions, based on the telephone answeringfacilities desired route conditions (e.g. to avoid sending the user onroutes that include certain competitors or other undesirable ordesirable landmarks), and or based on other relevant information. Inembodiments, the information includes links to webpages and or otherinformation pages. In embodiments, the information includes forms,selectors, or other areas where user provided information can be loadedand or selected in order to be communicated back to the telephoneanswering facility or other facility. For example, a user may call thetheater and the answering facility may respond by sending information tothe users cell phone. The information may include information pertainingto currently running shows. The user may view and or listen to thestored information and decide to purchase tickets for this evening'sshow. The user then makes the appropriate selection on his cell phoneand transmits his ticket request back to the answering facility or toanother facility he is directed to. In response, the user may receiveinformation pertaining to his ticket purchase on his cell phone or atanother facility.

FIG. 42 illustrates a system for communicating with a telephoneanswering facility 4202 wherein information 4210 is communicated in aformat to be viewed and or listened to through the communicationplatform 4204 (e.g. a cell phone) according to the principles of thepresent invention. In this embodiment, a user may use the communicationplatform 4204 to call or otherwise initiate or establish communicationwith the telephone answering facility 4202. The telephone answeringfacility 4202 may communicate information to the user through real-timevoice communication. The real-time voice communication may include thepresentation of menu options (e.g “say or press one for storeinformation) or through an automated information response (e.g. providedinformation without prompt). For example, the answering facility mayrespond to the call with a menu indicating the user should press one inorder to receive an information download to his cell phone or othercommunication facility. The user may then communicate the selection ofthe digit one 4208 to the telephone answering facility 4202. Thetelephone answering facility 4202 may then communicate information to bereceived and stored on the cell phone or other facility 4210. Thiscommunication may be take place while the user continues on the voicecall or at some time following the call. The communication 4210 from theanswering facility may be in a form to be received and viewed on thecell phone. For example, it may be a text message, a short message, anemail message, a webpost message or other format intended to be viewedthrough a viewing facility. The information 4210 may also include images(e.g. a .jpeg file), pictures, video, or other image information. Theinformation 4210 may also include audio information (e.g. an mp3 file).In embodiments, the audio information may be associated with the textand or image information provided.

In embodiments, once the information 4210 is received by the cell phone4204, the information may be stored in the cell phone for laterretrieval. For example, the information may be stored and associatedwith the address book or other list in the phone. The information maypertain to a store (e.g. a bike store, grocery store) and the user maystore the information in a file associated with the cell phone contactlist. When the user wants information pertaining to the bike store, hecalls it up through the name associated in the contacts list. He maythen be able to view all or a portion of the information associated withthe name listed in the contact list.

In embodiments, the information stored on the cell phone may alsoinclude a feature for updating the information. For example, theinformation may include an ‘update’ button (e.g. a software generatedicon) and the user may update the information through a click orotherwise activate the update button. Once activated, the phone mayinitiate communication with the original answering facility or otherupdate facility to retrieve update information. In embodiments, theinformation provided may include direction information and thedirections may be provided from the cell phones location (e.g. throughgps coordinates and map comparison). The user may choose to update theinformation based on his new location. For example, the user may want toreceive written or audio directions to a store or other location, so hecalls the answering facility and downloads direction information basedon his present location (e.g. based on his cell phone location). Once heis underway, he may review the downloaded information. If he gets lost,runs into traffic or otherwise wants updated information he may selectan update feature or call the answering facility again to receiveupdated directions from his new location.

In an embodiment, the information may contain sale or coupon informationand the user may choose to get updated information pertaining to salesor new coupons from time to time.

In an embodiment, the telephone answering facility may retaininformation pertaining to what devices or what persons it has deliveredinformation to and the telephone answering facility or other updatefacility may communicate updated information to the previously contacteddevices with updated information. In embodiments, this update proceduremay occur automatically, at predetermined time(s), when information isupdated, when there is new sale or coupon information, or at other timesdetermined by either the operators of the answering facility or theuser. For example, the telephone answering facility may automatically(e.g. non-caller prompted) communicate updated sale, coupon, direction,phone number or other information to a cell phone that was once used tocollect information. In an embodiment, the information may be deliveredwithout notification to the cell phone user. In an embodiment, theinformation may be delivered along with an alert to the user that newsale information has been loaded. In an embodiment, the new informationmay be displayed on the screen of the users communication facility andor stored in the facility for later viewing. By way of example,information pertaining to a sale may be communicated to a users cellphone. Information pertaining to the sale may be displayed, in eithersummary form or in its entirety, on the cell phone display. Theinformation may also be stored on the cell phone and associated with theinformation or replace the information already in the cell phone. Theinformation displayed on the screen may also include a link to furtherinformation stored on the cell phone or information stored in a remotelocation. For example, the information may contain a hyper link to thestore's website or to a file on the cell phone.

FIG. 43 illustrates a method of retrieving information from acommunication answering facility wherein the download of information isfacilitated by a cell network 4302 according to the principles of thepresent invention. In this embodiment, a communication platform 4204 maybe used to communicate a request 4208 through a cell network 4302 to acommunication answering facility associated with a business, residence,office, or other such establishment (e.g. a bike store) 4304. Theinformation request 4208 may be communicated through the cell network4302 and transmitted to the answering facility associated with the bikestore 4304. In response to the request, the answering facility maydownload or otherwise communicate information through the cell network4302 back to the mobile communication facility (e.g. cell phone) 4204.As previously described, and by way of example, the downloadedinformation may be in a format to be viewed through the cell phone.

FIG. 44 illustrates a method of retrieving information from acommunication answering facility wherein the information request isfulfilled in coordination with a location-based service 4402 (e.g. acell phone location triangulation facility, gps location facility)according to the principles of the present invention. In thisembodiment, a user uses his cell phone, or other communication platform4204, to communicate through the cell phone network 4302 to an answeringfacility associated with the bike store 4304. The ownership of the bikestore would like to provide location and direction information to theuser, so the answering facility is configured to communicate locationand direction information to the users cell phone. The information isformatted to be received and stored and or viewed by the user throughthe cell phone. In an embodiment, the location and direction informationmay be provided in a generic form. For example, the location anddirection information may include an address, phone number anddirections from a local landmark, roadway or highway (e.g. “when comingfrom Boston . . . ” or “when coming from the north . . . ” or “whencoming from Route 95 . . . ”). In an embodiment, the location anddirection information may be provided from a specific location. Forexample, the location of the cell phone may be determined through alocation-based service 4402 (e.g. gps location service, or cell phonetriangulation location service) and the directions from the cell phonespresent location may be determined and provided through a text messageor the like. The text message may read like a set of instructions fromthe users present location. For example, “go straight on Elm St for 1.8miles, turn right on Main St. for 0.4 miles, take Route 95 north to Exit38 . . . ” The user may store these directions and call them up to readwhile in transit. In an embodiment, the cell phone is equipped with anaudio system adapted to read the directions back in either complete orstepwise fashion. In an embodiment, the direction page, or associatedpage, may be equipped with an update facility wherein the user canupdate the directions. For example, the user may now be in a locationin-route, be lost, or coming from another location and want updatedinformation. The user could call the answering facility for updateddirections, or activate the update facility to automatically update thedirections from the users present location.

In an embodiment, the location and direction information may be providedfrom a user specified location. For example, the user may type, speak,or otherwise load a starting location (e.g. 11 Market St., Frenchtown,Mich.) into the system and the telephone answering facility may senddirections based on the loaded location.

In embodiments, the directions communicated to the cell phone 4204 incoordination with the location based service 4402 are provided in such away as to provide real-time directions. For example, once the locationand destination are determined the location-based service 4402 stays incommunication with the cell phone, either directly or in-directly, toprovide real-time direction information. The information may be providedin a stepwise fashion to provide real-time directions from street tostreet for example.

In an embodiment, the directions may be provided from the users presentlocation (e.g. as determined through cell phone location services) andthe directions may be based on route specific information. For example,the route specific information may include real-time route conditions,quasi real-time route conditions, typical route conditions, fastestroute, shortest route, route based on competition's location, routebased on the most attractive route or other information. In anembodiment, the destination and origin of the route are determined andthe route conditions are determined through the systems and methodsdescribed in the present disclosure. The user may be provided with amenu to determine how he would like the direction information presented(e.g. based on typical traffic versus generic directions) or the systemmay make the determination (e.g. with the intention of driving thecustomer in a path away from his competitor).

FIG. 45 illustrates a method of downloading information from a portablecommunication facility 4204 to an in-vehicle location facility 4102according to the principles of the present invention. In an embodiment,a user may use his cell phone to download direction, location, map, orother information from a remote source and then download 4502 theinformation, of part of the information, to an in-vehicle locationfacility 4102. For example, the user may use his phone to communicatewith an answering service to download stored location informationpertaining to a store, office, or residence. The user may then want touse that information in his in-vehicle location and mapping facility.The user then downloads 4502 the stored information from the cell phoneto the in-vehicle system such that the in-vehicle system can use theinformation. In an embodiment, a user may also download maps, map files,or other map information to be communicated to the in-vehicle system.

FIG. 46 illustrates an answering service facility 4600 according to theprinciples of the present invention. In an embodiment, the answeringservice facility 4600 includes a facility for receiving calls from acommunication platform 4604 (e.g. a cell phone). For example, theanswering service facility 4600 may include a receiving facility forreceiving calls through a cell phone network facility, land-linefacility, computer network facility, voice-over-IP facility, or otherfacility designed to provided connectivity between the answering servicefacility and a communication platform 4604. The communication platform4604 may include a database 4608. In embodiments, the answering servicefacility 4600 may in a database 4610. In embodiments, the answeringservice facility 4600 may be associated with a network and or othercomputer system 4614.

In embodiments, a user may use a communication platform 4604 (e.g. acell phone) to communicate with an answering service facility 4600. Theuser may initiate communication with the answering service facility 4600by calling an access number (e.g. phone number of a store) and theanswering service facility may respond by presenting an automated menuof options to be listened to and or selected. One such menu option maybe to download information. For example, the option number one may be todownload information relating to the dialed number (e.g. storeinformation, business information, or residence information). The usermay select this menu option and the information may be downloaded to thecell phone. The information may be downloaded as a text file, emailfile, short message file, voice file, image file, picture file, cookieor other file or message. The information may pertain to storeinformation, residential information, business information, corporateinformation, sale information, weather information, show information,time information, distance information, location information, directioninformation, congestion information, airport information, wait timeinformation, security information, advertisement information, phonenumber information, web information, map information, closest storeinformation, inventory information, store item information, priceinformation, coupon information, coupon with expiration information, orother information.

In embodiments, the communication platform 4604 is associated with asensor or location based facility (e.g. a gps location system, cellphone triangulation system). The location based facility may provideinformation pertaining to the location of the communication platform andor information pertaining to another facility's location. The locationbased facility may also provide information pertaining to routes,directions, route conditions, map information, or other informationdesirable by the user.

In embodiments, the communication platform 4604 includes a database4608. The database 4608 may be an internal or external database adaptedto store and retrieve information. For example, the user may downloadcertain information (e.g. directions) from an answering service facility4600 and store the information on the database 4608. The user may alsolater retrieve the information stored on the database 4608. Inembodiments, the data stored on the database 4608 may be text, image,picture, voice, or other data.

In embodiments, the answering service facility 4600 includes a database4610. The database 4610 may be used to store and or retrieveinformation. For example, the database 4610 may be used to store andretrieve information pertaining to competitors locations, trafficcongestion, roadwork information, web information, customer information,customer purchasing habit information, wealth information, personalpreference information, store preference information, advertisementinformation, coupon information, sale information, inventoryinformation, item information, hours of operation, location information,general information, ticket information, event information, residenceinformation, office information, emergency information, weatherinformation, attendance information, crowd information, delayinformation, menu information, option information, financialinformation, text information, visual information, audio information, orother information.

In embodiments, the answering service facility 4600 communicates toanother computing facility 4614. The communication to the othercomputing facility 4614 may be through wired, wireless, networked,direct connection or other method of communication. The other computingfacility 4614 may be used to calculate, process, derive or otherwisemanipulate data. For example, the other computing facility 4614 may beused to process information retrieved from the answering servicefacility's 4600 database 4610 or from the communication platform 4604 orother facility.

In embodiments, communication between the communication platform 4604and the answering service facility 4600 may include data over voicecommunication. For example, a user may be communicating with theanswering service facility 4600 via voice communication while at thesame time receiving, or transmitting, data from (or to) the answeringservice facility 4600. This technique may be used to facilitateperceived quick downloads. In embodiments, the information download maystart automatically such that even prior to the request for information,information is being downloaded.

In embodiments, the answering service facility 4600 communicates via aseparate data transfer or file transfer. In embodiments, the transfermay follow the termination of the voice call. For example, a user callsthe answering service facility 4600, requests information, and thenterminates the call. The answering service facility 4600 may then followwith a separate text message, or some other form of message, to thephone that was used to make the request (or to another facility if sodirected).

An aspect of the present invention relates to an answering servicefacility adapted to respond in a pre-configured manor upon recognitionof a caller identification. In embodiments, an answering servicefacility is adapted to recognize certain callers through their caller idnumber (e.g. their phone number). Once an answering service facilityrecognizes the caller id, it may react in certain pre-loaded ways. Forexample, a user may use his cell phone to call his home answeringservice facility and the home answering facility may recognize the phonenumber as the home owner. The answering service facility may thencommunicate with the user as the homeowner by, among other things,presenting the user with a menu of items or actions that can beperformed. For example, the provided menu may allow the playback ofmessages, personal messages, record a message, receive a data download,receive location information, associate the answering service facilitywith another facility, direct calls, forward calls, direct savedmessages, re-direct saved messages or provide for other actions.

In embodiments, an answering service facility is configured to downloadinformation to a users portable communication facility upon therecognition of an access code. In embodiments, the access code isdetermined through caller id, or other automatic recognition methods. Inembodiments, the access code is entered by a user. For example, the usermay speak, type, or otherwise enter an access code that the answeringservice facility is adapted to recognize.

In embodiments, the answering service facility is adapted to accessanother computing facility and download information from the othercomputing facility. For example, a person may load information on hishome computer and want to access it at a later time. By calling theanswering service facility and entering the access code, or having itautomatically recognized, the user may be able to instruct the answeringservice facility to access the information and have it downloaded. Auser may store a packing list, grocery list, personal list, word file,text file, excel file, data file, image, picture, graphics, or otherinformation on the second computing system for retrieval through theanswering service facility. In embodiments, such information may bestored directly on the answering service facility or a databaseassociated with it.

Referring again to FIG. 46, the communication platform 4604 maycommunicate with the answering service facility 4600 and accessinformation from the computing facility 4614. In an embodiment, thecomputing facility 4614 may be integrated into the answering servicefacility. A user may use this communication method to access, review,send, redirect or otherwise use the information on the computingfacility. For example, the user may access the computing facility andsend a file (e.g. shopping list) to another facility (e.g. store,ordering facility or website).

An aspect of the present invention relates to systems and methods ofcommunicating digital information associated with print advertisementsand other print material. In embodiments, a communication platform isused to receive digital information from another communication facilityassociated with the print material. For example, a print advertisement(e.g. a magazine advertisement) may include an RFID transmittingfacility and a portable communication facility (e.g. a cell phone) maybe used to interrogate the RFID transmitting facility to receiveinformation stored in the RFID transmitting facility.

FIG. 47 illustrates a communication platform 4702 that includes an RFIDinterrogation facility to communicate an interrogation signal 4708according to the principles of the present invention. The interrogationsignal 4708 may be directed to activate an RFID tag 4712 associated witha print advertisement 4704. The print advertisement 4704 may be anadvertisement, or other information, in a newspaper, magazine, book,paper, or other print. The information stored in the RFID tag mayinclude advertising information, location information, couponinformation, store information, access information, ticket information,phone information, direction information, web information, instructioninformation, or other information. For example, a user may open a phonebook and find a business he is looking for. He uses the interrogationfacility in his cell phone to extract information from the RFID tagassociated with the business' advertisement and store it on his phone.The information may then be associated with the address book in thephone and retrieval of the information may be obtained through theaddress book. In another example, a person may be reading a magazine ornewspaper and he may see some information he would like to save orotherwise use. He then uses his interrogation facility to extract theinformation stored on an associated RFID tag for use and or laterretrieval.

FIG. 48 illustrates an electronic information repository with a display4802 and a communication platform 4804 adapted to communicate with theinformation repository 4802 according to the principles of the presentinvention. In embodiments, the communication platform 4804 maycommunicate directly with the information repository (e.g. throughwireless, IR, RF, flashing sequences on the display). In embodiments,the communication platform 4804 may communicate in-directly with theinformation repository (e.g. through a computer network or cellnetwork). The information repository may include information pertainingto advertisements, locations, directions, or other information.

FIG. 49 illustrates an embodiment where a telephone answering servicefacility 4202 is in communication with other systems to facilitate thecommunication of information. For example, the telephone answeringfacility 4202 may be associated with the internet 4902 or other network.The telephone answering service facility may access information orprovide information to a number of other facilities associated with theinternet 4902. For example, one or more distributed navigation servers4402 (e.g similar to that disclosed in connection with U.S. Pat. No.6,615,131 and or U.S. Pat. No. 6,405,123, both of which are incorporatedby reference herein) may be associated with the internet and may provideand or receive information from the telephone answering service facility4202. One or more other computing facilities 4904 may be associated withthe internet and provide or receive information from the telephoneanswering service facility 4202. In embodiments, a mobile communicationsnetwork 4302 may be associated with the telephone answering servicefacility directly and or through the internet 4902. While thisembodiment is described in connection with communications facilitatedthrough the internet, or network in general, it should be appreciatedthat one or more or all of the described facilities may be combined andor directly associated in an embodiment and such variants areencompassed by the present invention.

Continuing the discussion related to FIG. 49, by way of example, a usermay use his mobile communication facility 4204 (e.g. cell phone, mobilephone, satellite phone, internet phone, network phone, portablecommunication facility, wireless phone, pda, combination pda/mobilephone, Palm® system, Blackberry® system, in-vehicle communicationfacility, in-vehicle navigation facility, in-vehicle informationfacility) to call a store, company, residence or the like and theautomated telephone answering service facility 4202 may respond to thecall. In embodiments, the mobile communication facility may be adaptedwith navigation software and interact with external computing systems toprovide the user with navigation and or directions (e.g. similar to thatdisclosed in connection with U.S. Pat. No. 6,615,131 and or U.S. Pat.No. 6,405,123, or similar to the mobile Navigation products offeredthrough Nextel®) The user may then be presented with a menu of options,asked for voice prompts, or otherwise engage in a interaction with theautomated telephone answering service facility 4202. One suchinteraction may be to provide the user with directions, navigation,route information, store information, traffic, inventory or the like(e.g. such as that described herein). Upon request, or through automaticdownload, the telephone answering service facility 4202 may provide theinformation in a number of ways. In embodiments, the telephone answeringservice facility responds by communicating the information directly tothe cell phone user (e.g. through text messages, route information,navigation instructions). In embodiments, the telephone answeringservice facility 4202 may operate locally or within an intranet tocollect and communicate the information. In another embodiment, thetelephone answering facility 4202 may communicate through the internet4902, or other network, to gain information from one or more of thedistributed navigation servers 4402 and or another computing facility4902. In another embodiment, the telephone answering service facility4202 may receive the call from the user's mobile communication facility4204 and then send the call and or call information, possibly along withother store information, to one or more of the distributed navigationservers 4402. The distributed navigation servers 4402 may thencommunicate directly with the user through the mobile communicationfacility 4204. In an embodiment, a traffic information facility may beassociated with the network of devices to provide or receive trafficinformation.

FIG. 49A illustrates a process for presenting a mobile communicationfacility user with information 4908. In this embodiment, the processbegins with a user requesting information 4910. For example, the usermay use his mobile communication facility to connect with a navigationfacility, other route information facility, telephone answering servicefacility, or other computer facility. Once the user has requestedinformation (e.g. navigation, route or store information), relevantinformation is collected 4912. For example, information maybe collectedfrom several sources 4914, such as collecting the user's location (e.g.through a gps location facility) 4914A, collecting store, corporate, orresidential information 4914B, route and or traffic information 4914C,navigation information 4914D (which may be interrelated with the trafficand or route information 4914C), and or special information relating tothe user's request (e.g. special local navigation instructions, speciallocal information). Once the information is collected, the informationmay be processed to create a format presentable to the user 4920. Then,the information may be presented to the user 4922. In the presentationof the information, real-time navigation may be presented and or otherroute information, directions, store information, sale information,contact information, or other desirable information.

An aspect of the present invention relates to systems and methods ofproviding navigation systems, route information systems, and the likewith destination information. In embodiments, the destinationinformation may be provided through various sources to make itconvenient for a user of such route and navigation systems to load thedesired destination. In embodiments, these systems and methods maybeuseful in providing customers, friends, business colleagues, or otherswith information pertaining to the destination. For example, FIG. 50illustrate several systems and methods for loading destinationinformation into such systems. In this embodiment, the user may call atelephone answering service facility 4202 and the telephone answeringservice facility 4202 may provide destination information to anavigation or route information facility 4402 (e.g. as described hereinabove). The information may contain the location of the store, company,residence or the like that the telephone answering service facility 4202is associated with. In embodiments, the information provided by theanswering facility 4202 may include information unrelated to directions,route information, or navigation information. For example, the answeringfacility 4202 may provide information relating to the business orresidence the answering facility 4202 is associated with (e.g. salesinformation, inventory, special directions, hours of operation). Inembodiments, the user may use his mobile communication facility 4204 toreceive a transmission 5010D from another source, scan information5010C, type or key in information 5010B, and or speak information 5010Aand then transmit this information to a navigation and or other routeinformation facility 4402. The information may come from books, printads, other mobile communication facilities or other sources external tothe communication device that contains the desired information.

In embodiments, a user may use his mobile communication facility 4204 tocommunicate with websites 5008 and gain information from the websitesthat can be used by the navigation and or other route informationfacilities. For example, a user may gain access to websites relating toa restaurant guide, business guide, google.com (or other search engine),a news site, an advertisement, a corporate site, retail site, restaurantsite, or other websites that contain destination information. Inembodiments, once the site is accessed, the relevant information may beextracted and communicated to the navigation and or other routeinformation facility 4402. The information may flow back to the phoneand then to the navigation facility or it may flow without the aid ofthe phone. Once the destination information is loaded into navigationfacility, the navigation facility may assess the location of the cellphone (e.g. through gps and or cell phone triangulation techniques) tothen calculate a route, provide navigation, provide traffic information,alternative route information or other information described and orencompassed by the present invention.

In embodiments, a user may enter location/destination information intoan address book in the user's mobile communication facility and theinformation from the address book may be communicated to a navigationfacility and or other route information facility. For example, the usermay receive a transmission including the location information from anexternal source and load it into his address book for later submissionto a navigation and or other route information service. In embodiments,the transmission may come from another mobile communication facility, anRFID tag (e.g. an RFID tag associated with a product, advertisement,sales information) or other source of transmitted information. In anembodiment, the user may use a voice recognition system in the mobilecommunication facility to recognize the location and or destinationinformation. In embodiments, this information may then be directlytransmitted to a navigation and or other route information facility. Forexample, the information may be recognized and organized in a formatcompatible with the navigation/route information facility and thenavigation/route information facility may provide the user withnavigation and or other route information through a transmission to themobile communication facility. In embodiments, the user may be using amobile communication facility that is associated with a scanner (e.g.incorporated into the mobile communication facility, or separate frombut associated with the mobile communication facility) and the user mayuse the scanner to scan and load location/destination information intothe mobile communication facility for transmission to a navigation andor other route information facility. In embodiments, the scannedinformation may be loaded into an address book in the mobilecommunication facility for later transmission to a navigation and orother route information facility.

FIG. 51 illustrates a screen shot 5100 from a mobile communicationfacility according to the principles of the present invention. Inembodiments, a user may use a mobile communication facility to accessinformation from a telephone answering service facility (e.g. asdescribed in connection with other embodiments herein) to downloadinformation relating to navigation, route, store, business or otherinformation related to the business, residence, corporation, and orlocation with which the telephone answering service facility isassociated. As described herein above, in embodiments, the telephoneanswering service facility may then communicate information to the userdirectly, through a route information and or navigation facility, or incoordination with another facility, such as a route information and ornavigation facility. In embodiments, the information provided to theuser may include a corporate logo 5102, trademark, service mark and orother tag line 5104, and or a menu of options 5108. In embodiments, themenu of options may be links to websites and or connections toinformation stored locally (e.g. connections to information that hasbeen downloaded). For example, the menu may include connections todirections/navigation/route information 5108A, store and or corporate orresidential information 5108B, sale/inventory information 5108C, storeor corporate directory (e.g. names, departments, contact information)5108D, video information (e.g. corporate video, retail video, homevideo, advertisement, sales video) 5108E, contact information 5108F andor other connections to useful information.

FIG. 52 illustrates a screen shot 5200 from a mobile communicationfacility according to the principles of the present invention. In anembodiment, the content provided may be separated into more then onescreen, page, or display. In other embodiments, the content may beprovided, or substantially provided, on a single screen, page, ordisplay. In an embodiment, a scrolling facility may be available toallow the user to scroll through the content. In the embodimentillustrated in FIG. 52, the screen shot contains a logo 5102, trademark,service mark or other tag line 5104, header information 5202,directions, route information, and or navigation information 5204,special local directions, information and or navigation information(e.g. parking garage is located behind the building, enter and go toelevators on right, there is construction on the main road, so enter viasecondary route on first avenue) 5208, and store, corporate, residentialor other information relating to the location (e.g. sale information,advertisements, store directory, corporate directory, custom informationfor user) 5210.

In embodiments, the screen shot 5200 includes special local information5208. This information may be collected and presented in a many ways,each of which is encompassed by the present invention. For example, auser may call a telephone answering service facility to obtain automatednavigation and or other route information and the telephone answeringservice facility may collect and process the information to be providedto the user and then transmit the information to the user via his mobilecommunication facility. In embodiments, the telephone answering servicefacility coordinates the collection process and transmission throughother facilities, such as those embodiments described in connectionFIGS. 49 and 50. For example, once the call is received by the telephoneanswering service facility, the telephone answering service facility maycommunicate the local information 5208, and the other location specificinformation (e.g. logo, trademark, header, special directions, storeinformation), to the navigation facility and the navigation facility maypresent all of the information to the user such that it appearspresented from a single source, possibly approved by the location heoriginally called. In another embodiment, the user may call, orotherwise connect with, the navigation facility to request informationon a store, business, residence, landmark or other location and thenavigation facility may collect the local information discussed inconnection with the embodiment of FIGS. 51 and 52 to present it to theuser.

An aspect of the present invention relates to systems and methods forproviding secure location based services. In embodiments, location basedservices are provided through a mobile communication facility, such as amobile cell phone or personal digital assistant. The mobilecommunication facility may be used to provide location information toanother facility to complete a transaction, navigate, obtain locationinformation, and or to perform other functions, for example. Inembodiments, the mobile communication facility may be adapted with asecurity facility to provide secure and or limited access to thelocation information that may be obtained from the mobile communicationfacility. For example, the security facility may provide the user with auser interface that provides one or more selections of what otherfacilities, businesses, groups of businesses, people, groups of people,or otherwise identified or unidentified facilities are permitted toaccess the location information. In embodiments, the user is presentedwith a menu style option list. In embodiments, the security facility ispresented as a spam filter or other similar screening facility. Inembodiments, the security facility is implemented through an encryptionfacility, using, for example, a key system and or public/private keysystem or other key or permission style facility.

FIG. 53 illustrates a secure location based service process 5300according to the principles of the present invention. In embodiments,the flow of location information to a location facility 5302 isregulated through the use of a security facility 5304 and a userinterface 5308. In embodiments, the user interface 5308 and the securityfacility 5304 may be provided in another facility, such as a mobilecommunication facility for example.

An aspect of the present invention is a method or system for providing asecure location based service. The method may involve providing asecurity facility adapted with a user interface; and manipulating theuser interface to select one or more security settings related to atleast one location based service. In embodiments, the user interface isprovided through a mobile communication facility. In embodiments, themobile communication facility comprises at least one of a cell phone anda personal digital assistant. In embodiments, the user interfaceprovides a menu of options. In embodiments, the user interface providesa plurality of options wherein the plurality of options relate to atleast one of different location based services, different entities,different people, and different locations.

FIG. 54 illustrates a secure location based service user interface 5400.The user interface 5400 may be presented through a mobile communicationfacility 5404 by providing a user with a software generated interface.In this embodiment, the user interface is presented with a menu ofselectable and or alterable selections 202A-J. For example, link 202 maybe provided to enable, disable, or otherwise control the access of themobile communication facilities location. In embodiments, groups ofpeople or entities are presented through a link. For example, a user mayhave a ‘buddy list’ where known people or entities are known and thisgroup may be identified with link 202F. The user may enable or disablethis group's access to information in the mobile communication facility(e.g. location information). Other group examples include work,colleagues, home, family, navigation facilities, direction facilities,traffic facilities, friends, agents, travel agent, lawyer, or othergroups, entities, and or individuals. Links such as emergency and safetymay also be provided to allow the user control of emergency and orsafety facilities access to information. In embodiments, links to allowidentified access 210 may also be presented. For example, the user maybe presented with information that a someone is attempting to obtaininformation from the user's mobile communication facility and the usermay then have the ability to enable or disable the access. The link 210may also be programmed to provide the user with control over all access.For example, by enabling access through the link, the user may begranting everyone access or certain predetermined groups access to theinformation. In embodiments, the interface may include a link to control‘keyed’ access where a request provided with appropriate key informationmay be controlled.

An aspect of the present invention is a method or system for providing auser interface for a secure location based service. The method mayinvolve providing a mobile communication facility; and providing a userinterface through the use of the mobile communication facility; whereinthe user interface allows the selection of a plurality of alternativesecurity settings. In embodiments, the plurality of security settingsincludes categories of at least one of facilities, people, entities, andlocation services. In embodiments, the categories further provide theuser the ability to selectively turn on or off another parties abilityto access an associated location. In embodiments, the categories relateto at least one of friends, family, buddy list, address book, safety,emergencies, work, home, navigation, directions, travel agent, localenvironments, retail stores, corporations, advertisers, list ofacceptable facilities to access the associated location, and list of notacceptable facilities to access the associated location.

An aspect of the present invention is a method or system for providing auser interface for a secure location based service. The method mayinvolve providing a mobile communication facility; and providing a userinterface through the use of the mobile communication facility; whereinthe user interface provides access to an associated location followingidentification of a facility requesting access and permission beinggranted. In embodiments the requesting facility sends a request commandto the mobile communication facility in an attempt to gain access to theassociated location and the user makes a selection on a portion of theuser interface to allow access; wherein upon approval of access, themobile communication facility provides location information to therequesting facility or provides access to the location information tothe requesting facility. In embodiments, the location information isprovided through an encryption technique. In embodiments, the encryptiontechnique comprises a public key private key protocol. In embodiments,the encryption technique comprises an encryption key protocol.

An aspect of the present invention is a method or system for providing auser interface for a secure location based service. The method mayinvolve providing a mobile communication facility; providing a userinterface through the use of the mobile communication facility; whereinthe user interface provides the user the ability to turn keyed locationrequests on or off. In embodiments, the keyed location request is aprivate/public key request. In embodiments, the keyed location requestis an encrypted key request.

FIG. 55 illustrates a process for providing secure location informationtransactions 5500 through the use of a user interface 5512 controlledfilter 5504. In embodiments, the process involves providing a filter5504 adapted to filter acceptable location requests and unacceptablelocation requests. For example, the filter may be adapted to allowlocation information to be provided to certain facilities (e.g. anavigation facility with the designated key) and the locationinformation (e.g. provided through a gps chip in a mobile communicationfacility) may be provided upon request 5510. The filter may be adaptedto compare the requestor or type of information requested by an externalfacility with the acceptable conditions under which to provide locationinformation and provide information when the appropriate conditions aremet. Likewise, in embodiments, the filter may be adapted to disallow theproviding of location information if the filter criteria are not met. Inembodiments, the filter may be adapted to log the event and orinformation relating to the location information request in anotification log when information is requested. In embodiments the logmay be set to record all requests, allowed requests, and or disallowedrequests. In embodiments, the filter may be adapted to provide the usernotification of the event and or information relating to the locationinformation. In embodiments the log may be set to provide notificationof all requests, allowed requests, and or disallowed requests. Inembodiments, the notification 5510 may communicate a ‘de-list’ requestto the requesting facility to request the location facility to removethe user from it's contact list or otherwise block future accessrequests. In embodiments, the de-list request may be communicated toanother facility for reporting such request activity.

An aspect of the present invention is a method or system for providingsecure location information. The method or system may involve providinga filter adapted to filter location requests; communicating a locationrequest to the filter;

providing location information when the location request meets specifiedfilter criteria; and not providing location the location informationwhen the location request does not meet the specified filter criteria.In embodiments, the filter is adapted to be modified through a userinterface. In embodiments, the filter is adapted to be used in a mobilecommunication facility. In embodiments, the method or system may furthercomprises logging information related to the location request. Inembodiments, the method or system may further comprises providing analert that location information was requested. In embodiments, themethod or system may further comprises providing an alert that locationinformation that did not meet the filter criteria was requested. Inembodiments, the method or system may further comprises providing analert that location information that met the filter criteria wasrequested.

FIG. 56 illustrates a process for providing secure location informationtransactions 5500 through the use of an automatic filter 5602 forunwanted requests (e.g. a spam filter). In embodiments, the spam filtermay examine the headers and or content of the request, and look forvarious features. Each feature may be associated with a score (which maybe negative). The scores of all the features found may be totaled, and ahigher total score may indicate that the message is more likely to bespam and as a result not allowed to pass and or the filter may be usedto prevent location information from being communicated to therequestor. In an embodiment a request with a total score over somepredetermined amount (e.g. 5) is filtered, and possibly logged or usedto provide notification. In embodiments, the user may adjust thispredetermined amount higher, to let in more location requests and blockfewer legitimate location requests, or lower, to block more spam andrisk blocking more legitimate location requests. In embodiments, a usermay change the “spam score threshold” on his mobile communicationfacility, on a related facility, through an associated websitefacilitating spam filter settings, or the like. In embodiments the spamfilter may use location request origin, the software used to send therequest, what the request looks like, messages within the request, termswithin the request, or other information related to the request as anindication of spam content. In embodiments, if the spam filter passesthe request as legitimate, location information may be provided (e.g.from the gps location facility in a mobile communication facility) 5510.In embodiments, if the spam filter does not pass the request aslegitimate, a notification may be sent to the user, and or the requestmay be logged 5508.

FIG. 57 illustrates a process for providing secure location information5700 in coordination with a key facility 5704. In embodiments, theprocess involves receiving a location request with key information 5702,upon receipt of the key information, the key information may be comparedwith acceptable keys 5704. In the event the keys match, the locationinformation may be provided 5510. In the event the keys do not match,the location information may not be provided and the request may belogged and or a notification of the request may be provided to a user.There are many techniques envisioned and encompassed by the presentinvention relating to providing location information to known users orusers with approved access. Embodiments involve receiving locationinformation requests through the use of passwords, digital signatures,private keys, public/private keys and or other techniques useful inidentifying the source of the request and or identifying the approvallevel of the request/requestor.

Embodiments involve encrypting the request and or the locationinformation being requested. For example, a cryptographic system thatuses two keys—a public key known to everyone and a private or secret keyknown only to the recipient of the request. In embodiments, the privatekey may be used to accept the in-bound request and or be provided withthe requested location information. For example, a location service mayrequest the location of a mobile communication facility and the requestmay be accompanied by key information 5702. The key information may havebeen previously obtained from the user of the mobile communicationfacility or otherwise obtained authorized key information. Once thelocation information is received by the mobile communication facilityalong with the key information, the mobile communication facility maycompare the received key information with the user's key information5704. If they match, or otherwise indicate authorized access, thelocation information associated with the mobile communication facilitymay be provided to the service requesting the location information 5510.In the event the location request does not come with key information orappropriate key information, the location information may not be sent.The unauthorized request may also be logged and or a notification of therequest may be communicated to the user of the mobile communicationfacility 5508. In embodiments, the key compare may be done through afacility other than the mobile communication facility. For example, thelocation information request may be communicated through anothercomputing facility where the compare is completed. Once completed, anapproved request may be communicated to the mobile communicationfacility.

FIG. 58 illustrates an embodiment involving user approval prior toproviding location information from the user's mobile communicationfacility. For example, an external facility may request locationinformation from the mobile communication facility 5802. The user maythen be notified of the request 5804. The user may then review theinformation request, requestor information, or other informationrelating to the request to decide if he wants to provide the locationinformation. The user may then interact with a user interface, on themobile communication facility for example, to either permit or notpermit the information to be communicated 5808. If he accepts therequest, the information may be provided 5510. If he denies the request,the information may not be provided and the request may be logged and orother notifications may be provided.

FIG. 59 illustrates a cell phone tower communication progression methodand system according to the principles of the present invention. Inembodiments, a location facility may locate and or track the location ofa mobile communication facility (e.g. a cell phone or in-vehiclecommunication facility). In embodiments, the methods and systems involvetracking the position of mobile communication facilities and identifyingthe best cell phone tower to be used. The evaluation of which cell towerto use may involve proximity to the towers and or prediction ofprogression of proximity to towers. For example, a mobile communicationfacility may be used in a vehicle and the vehicle 5904 may be travelingon a roadway. A location facility may track the location of the mobilecommunication facility and compare its location with one or more cellphone towers 5902A-C. The location system may also predict the path ofthe vehicle (e.g. by assessing what road they vehicle is on and the mostlikely progression), and predict which tower is going to provide thebest service. in embodiments, the hand-off from one tower to anothermade be made at least in part by considering the mobile communicationfacility location, progression, and or predicted path.

Another aspect of the present invention relates to an automatedtelephone answering system (e.g. an integrated voice response system(IVRS)) with improved communication and navigation. In embodiments, theautomated telephone answering system communicates with a web service andcan transfer a received phone call to the web service. The web servicecan likewise transfer the call back to the answering system and or to ahuman operator for further interaction. For example, a user may use acell phone to call a movie theater. The call may be answered by anautomated telephone answering system and interact with the callerthrough a menu of options (e.g. “press 1 for . . . ”). One of theoptions presented may be an option to interact further through a webpage or other graphical network facility. The user may make the webinteraction selection (e.g. through voice prompts or through cell phonenumber interaction). Upon receipt of the instruction, the telephoneanswering facility may send an instruction to the cell phone and thecell phone may they connect to the targeted website for interaction. Thewebsite may contain information much the same as the information thatwas available through the voice prompts and or other information and orinteraction options. For example, the web interaction page may presentmovie times and upon selection of a movie time, the user may be able topurchase movie tickets. In embodiments, the cell phone has an economictransaction facility incorporated to facilitate making the transactionof buying the tickets. In embodiments, thicket purchase information mayalso be downloaded to the phone and the phone may be used at the theaterto provide the purchased ticket information back. In embodiments, thetelephone answering system, and or the associated web interactionfacility may present information to the cell phone user based on thecell phone user's location, which may be obtained through a locationfacility for example.

FIG. 60 illustrates an improved telephone answering system according tothe principles of the present invention 6000. In embodiments, a mobilecommunication facility (e.g. cell phone) 6002 is used to call anestablishment (e.g. business, store, residence, school, governmentoffice) and the call is received by an automated answering system (e.g.IVRS) 6004. The telephone answering system may respond to the call byproviding an audio menu to the user of the phone (e.g. “press 1 for . .. ”). One of the options presented through the audio menu may be to beconnected to a web service for other options and or other and or furtherinteractivity. For example, the answering system may respond by‘speaking’ “press 5 to be connected to our web service.” In embodiments,upon selection of the appropriate link (e.g. “5” in this example) thetelephone answering system may redirect the phones communication to aweb service. The web service may then download information to the mobilecommunication facility. The user of the mobile communication facilitymay then interact with the web service through the mobile communicationfacility. In embodiments, the web service may provide a link to transferthe call back to the telephone answering system. In embodiments, the webservice may provide a link to be directed to a human operator forfurther human interaction. In embodiments, the web service may providean indication of the expected wait time on the human operator link ifchosen.

In embodiments, a mobile communication facility 6002 may be used toinitiate a call to an automated telephone answering system 6004. Asillustrated in FIG. 60, the mobile communication facility may also beused to directly interact with a web facility 6008 and or a humanoperator facility 6018. The call, or interaction, with one of thefacilities may be passed, redirected, transferred, or otherwisecoordinated by and or between the other facilities. For example, whenthe call is received by the telephone answering system 6004, it maycoordinate the transfer of the communication to the web facility 6008and or the human interaction facility 6018. Likewise, a call received bythe human interaction facility 6018 may be transferred to the webfacility 6008 and or the auto attendant 6004. Likewise, a webinteraction may be transferred to the human interaction facility 6018and or the auto attendant 6004.

FIG. 61 illustrates an improved telephone answering process according toaspects of the present invention. In embodiments, a mobile communicationfacility 6002 may interact with a telephone answering facility and audioinformation 6102 may be presented to the user of the mobilecommunication facility 6002. The information may be presented as a menuof options for example. One of the options presented through the audiopresentation of menu options may be to be transferred to a web serviceor other facility where graphics information may be presented. In theexample presented in FIG. 61, the audible option for the transfer isoption five. Once the user of the mobile communication facility selectsoption five (e.g. through a voice activation system or key activationsystem), the user may then be presented with information through a webservice 6018 or other graphic user interface through the mobilecommunication facility. The transfer from the phone answering system tothe web service may be provided through a connection facility 6104. Theconnection facility may be a system in the telephone answering facility,web facility, cell network, mobile communication facility or otherwisepresented.

FIG. 62 illustrates a method of communicating with a telephone answeringsystem and or a web service 6008. In embodiments, a mobile communicationfacility 6002 may be used to connect to an answering facility 6004through a cell phone network 6204. The call interactions may be directedto the web service (e.g. through systems an methods described herein).The communications redirection(s) may be handled through the cellnetwork 6204, telephone answering facility 6004, the web service 6008and or another facility (not shown).

In embodiments, a mobile communication facility may be associated with alocation service (e.g. through a cell phone triangulation locationfacility, or a gps facility) and a telephone answering facility and orweb facility may be adapted to provide information related or based onthe location, route, predicted route, or other location information. Forexample, a caller may call a “1-800” number and be received by anational answering facility. The national answering facility may assessthe location of the caller and present information related to hislocation and or options based on his location. For example, a nationalretailer, such as the Gap, has stores throughout the US and a nationalcall center may receive a call, assess the location of the caller, andpresent information (e.g. store locations) based on stores in closeproximity to the caller's location. For example, the informationprovided may include directions, store hours, and or sale informationand the information may be presented for the store(s) nearest to thecaller.

While the invention has been disclosed in connection with theembodiments shown and described in detail, various equivalents,modifications, and improvements will be apparent to one of ordinaryskill in the art from the above description. Such equivalents,modifications, and improvements are intended to be encompassed by thefollowing claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A computer program product embodied in a computerreadable medium that, when executing on one or more computers, performsthe steps of: Step One: identifying a first location, at time one, of aplurality of automobiles using cell phone tower triangulation to locatea cell phone within each of the plurality of automobiles; indentifying asecond location, at a time two, subsequent to time one, for each of theplurality of automobiles using cell phone tower triangulation to locatethe cell phone within each of the plurality of automobiles; calculatinga vehicle speed for each of the plurality of automobiles using the firstlocation at time one and the second location at time two; using thecalculated vehicle speed for each of the plurality of automobiles tocreate a traffic condition measure for a route in proximity to the firstand second locations; Step Two: iteratively performing Step One, inreal-time, at a time interval to calculate a real-time traffic conditionmeasure; identifying a request for route information received from auser's cell phone, wherein the requested route information has aproximal association to at least one of the first location, the secondlocation, or the route in proximity to the first and second locations;and presenting an alert to the user's cell phone based at least in parton the real-time traffic condition measure.
 2. The computer programproduct of claim 1, wherein the request for route information isreceived prior to the calculation of the real-time traffic controlmeasure.
 3. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein the requestfor route information is received after the calculation of the real-timetraffic control measure.
 4. The computer program product of claim 1,wherein the alert is an automated SMS message sent to the user's cellphone.
 5. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein the alert isan automated phone message sent to the user's cell phone.
 6. Thecomputer program product of claim 5, wherein the automated phone messageis a voice mail.
 7. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein thealert is an email sent to the user's cell phone.
 8. The computer programproduct of claim 1, wherein the alert is an audible message sent to theuser's cell phone.
 9. The computer program product of claim 1, whereinthe alert is a video message sent to the user's cell phone.
 10. Acomputer program product embodied in a computer readable medium that,when executing on one or more computers, performs the steps of: StepOne: identifying a first location, at time one, of a plurality ofautomobiles using cell phone tower triangulation to locate a cell phonewithin each of the plurality of automobiles; identifying a secondlocation, at a time two, subsequent to time one, for each of theplurality of automobiles using cell phone tower triangulation to locatethe cell phone within each of the plurality of automobiles; calculatinga vehicle speed for each of the plurality of automobiles using the firstlocation at time one and the second location at time two; using thecalculated vehicle speed for each of the plurality of automobiles tocreate a traffic condition measure for a route in proximity to the firstand second locations; Step Two: iteratively performing Step One, inreal-time, at a time interval to calculate a real-time traffic conditionmeasure; receiving a user request from a user's cell phone for trafficcondition information associated with the route; presenting thereal-time traffic condition measure to the display of the user's cellphone; identifying a request for route information received from auser's cell phone, wherein the requested route information has aproximal association to at least one of the first location, the secondlocation, or the route in proximity to the first and second locations;and presenting an alert to the user's cell phone, wherein the alert isgenerated when the real-time traffic condition measure varies from thetypical travel time for the route in proximity to the first and secondlocations.
 11. A computer program product embodied in a computerreadable medium that, when executing on one or more computers, performsthe steps of: Step One: identifying a first location, at time one, of aplurality of automobiles using cell phone tower triangulation to locatea cell phone within each of the plurality of automobiles; identifying asecond location, at a time two, subsequent to time one, for each of theplurality of automobiles using cell phone tower triangulation to locatethe cell phone within each of the plurality of automobiles; calculatinga vehicle speed for each of the plurality of automobiles using the firstlocation at time one and the second location at time two; using thecalculated vehicle speed for each of the plurality of automobiles tocreate a traffic condition measure for a route in proximity to the firstand second locations; Step Two: iteratively performing Step One, inreal-time, at a time interval to calculate a real-time traffic conditionmeasure; receiving a user request from a user's cell phone for trafficcondition information associated with the route; presenting thereal-time traffic condition measure to the display of the user's cellphone; identifying a request for route information received from auser's cell phone, wherein the requested route information has aproximal association to at least one of the first location, the secondlocation, or the route in proximity to the first and second locations;and presenting an alert to the user's cell phone, wherein the alert isgenerated when the route conditions that are associated with the routein proximity to the first and second locations varies from the typicalroute conditions for the route in proximity to the first and secondlocations.